Overview

Aortic Valve :

During ventricular systole, pressure rises in the left ventricle. When the pressure in the left ventricle rises above the pressure in the aorta, the aortic valve opens, allowing blood to exit the left ventricle into the aorta. When ventricular systole ends, pressure in the left ventricle rapidly drops. When the pressure in the left ventricle decreases, the aortic pressure forces the aortic valve to close. The closure of the aortic valve contributes the A2 component of the second heart sound (S2).

Aortic Valve Replacement :

Aortic valve replacement means that a patient's aortic valve is replaced by a different valve. The aortic valve can be affected by a range of diseases and require aortic valve replacement. The valve can either become leaky (regurgitant or insufficient) or stuck partially shut (stenotic). Aortic valve replacement currently requires open heart surgery. Research is being done now to develop valves that can be implanted using a catheter without open heart surgery. There are two basic types of artificial heart valve, mechanical valves and tissue valves. Tissue heart valves are usually made from animal tissues, either animal heart valve tissue or animal pericardial tissue. The tissue is treated to prevent rejection and to prevent calcification.

There are alternatives to animal tissue valves. In some cases a human aortic valve can be implanted. These are called homografts. Homograft valves are donated by patients and harvested after the patient expires. The durability of homograft valves is probably the same for porcine tissue valves. Another procedure for aortic valve replacement is the Ross procedure (after Donald Ross) or pulmonary autograft. The Ross procedure involves going to surgery to have the aortic valve removed and replacing it with the patient's own pulmonary valve. A pulmonary homograft (a pulmonary valve taken from a cadaver) or a valvular prothesis is then used to replace the patient's own pulmonary valve.

Definition : Aortic valve replacement

Aortic valve replacement is the insertion of a mechanical or tissue valve in place of the diseased native aortic valve.

Purpose :

Aortic valve replacement is necessary when the aortic valve has become diseased. The aortic valve can suffer from insufficiency (inability to perform adequately) or stenosis. An insufficient valve is leaky and allows blood flow retrograde from the aorta to the left ventricle during diastole. A stenotic valve prevents the flow of blood antegrade from the left ventricle to the aorta, during systole.

Either situation can result in heart failure and an enlarged left ventricle. With aortic stenosis (narrowing), angina pectoris, fainting, and congestive heart failure will develop with the severity of the narrowing. There is an increased rate of sudden death of patients with aortic stenosis. Dyspnea (labored breathing), fatigue, and palpitations are late symptoms of aortic insufficiency. Angina pectoris is associated with the latest stages of aortic insufficiency.

Aortic valve repair is a surgical procedure used to correct some aortic valve disorders as an alternative to aortic valve replacement. Aortic valve repair is performed less often and is more technically difficult than mitral valve repair.

There are two surgical techniques of aortic-valve repair:

The Reimplantation-Technique (David-Procedure)
The Remodeling-Technique (Yacoub-Procedure)

Symptoms :

Aortic stenosis may not produce immediate symptoms or signs. The first sign is usually an abnormal heart sound, or heart murmur, which may develop months or even decades before other signs and symptoms. Aortic stenosis ranges from mild to severe.

As the valve narrows, more signs and symptoms develop and can include :

Causes :

Causes of aortic regurgitation may be : -

Rheumatic fever :-

This complication of strep throat was once a common childhood illness in the United States. It can damage the aortic valve, leading to aortic regurgitation later in life, and may damage more than one heart valve and in more than one way. A damaged heart valve may not open fully or close fully — or both. Many older adults in the United States were exposed to rheumatic fever as children. Rheumatic fever is still prevalent in underdeveloped countries.

Deterioration of the valve with age :-

The aortic valve opens and shuts tens of thousands of times a day, every day of a person's life. Aortic regurgitation may result from age-related wear and tear on the valve. We Care partner hospitals surgeons has extensive experience successfully treating elderly patients who have aortic regurgitation.

Endocarditis :-

The aortic valve may be damaged by endocarditis — an infection inside the heart that can involve the heart valves. Read more about endocarditis prevention.

Congenital heart defect :-

Some infants are born with an aortic valve that has one leaflet (unicuspid valve) or two leaflets (bicuspid valve) rather than the normal three leaflets. This puts the child at risk of developing aortic regurgitation at some point in their life.

Diagnosis :

At We Care partner hospital, diagnosis begins with a complete physical examination by a medical team that specializes in heart care. Patients will be asked about their general health, including signs and symptoms, and a history of heart disease in their family.

Various tests can help diagnose the type of heart valve problem, the possible cause of a heart valve defect, determine how serious the problem is and whether the aortic valve needs to be surgically repaired or replaced.

For more information, medical assessment and medical quote

as email attachment to

Email : - info@wecareindia.com

Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST)

(Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)