Valvular Heart Diseases: Classification, Causes, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

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Published on Dec 26, 2024
Valvular heart disease is any cardiovascular disease process involving one or more of the four valves of the heart (the aortic and mitral valves on the left side of the heart and the pulmonic and tricuspid valves on the right side of the heart).
Anatomically, the valves are part of the dense connective tissue of the heart known as the cardiac skeleton and are responsible for the regulation of blood flow through the heart and great vessels.
Valve failure or dysfunction can result in diminished heart functionality, though the particular consequences are dependent on the type and severity of the valvular disease.
Treatment of damaged valves may involve medication alone, but often involves surgical valve repair or valve replacement.
Stenosis and insufficiency/regurgitation represent the dominant functional and anatomic consequences associated with valvular heart disease. Irrespective of the disease process, alterations to the valve occur that produce one or a combination of these conditions. Insufficiency and regurgitation are synonymous terms that describe an inability of the valve to prevent backflow of blood as leaflets of the valve fail to join (coapt) correctly. Stenosis is characterized by a narrowing of the valvular orifice that prevents adequate outflow of blood. Stenosis can also result in insufficiency if thickening of the annulus or leaflets results in inappropriate leaf closure
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