What Are The Main Valvular Heart Disease Causes And Best Treatment Options?
What Are The Main Valvular Heart Disease Causes And Best Treatment Options?
Introduction
The heart has four valves, mitral, aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves that regulate flow of blood. These valves ensure that the blood flows in and out of the heart’s chambers in the right direction. Different valvular heart disease causes impact this functioning, affecting the flow of blood, increasing the burden of the heart causing leakage of blood and various other conditions. Let us look at the different valvular heart diseases and treatment options for congenital heart diseases.
How Is Each Heart Valve Disease Name Assigned To A Condition
The names of various heart valve diseases are on the basis of the specific valve affected. It is also related to the type of dysfunction that causes the condition. Here is a quick look at the main types and valvular heart disease causes:
Aortic valve disease – This is broadly divided into two categories, as outlined below.
- Aortic Stenosis – This refers to a condition where the aortic valve is narrowed, and this impacts the flow of blood from the heart to the body. The amount of blood that flows is reduced as a result of this condition.
- Aortic regurgitation – This is also known as aortic insufficiency and refers to the condition when the aortic valve does not close properly. This results in leakage of blood back to into the heart.
Mitral valve disease – This is broadly divided into three categories, as outlined below.
- Mitral stenosis – This refers to the narrowing of the mitral valve. This condition results in restricting the flow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- Mitral regurgitation – Also known as mitral insufficiency, this refers to improper closure of the mitral valve. This results in leakage of blood back into the left atrium.
- Mitral valve prolapse – In this condition the mitral valve flaps bulge back into the left atrium. This can result in regurgitation.
Tricuspid valve disease – This is broadly divided into two categories as outlined below.
- Tricuspid stenosis – This refers to a condition where the tricuspid valve is narrowed. This impacts the flow of blood between the right atrium and right ventricle.
- Tricuspid regurgitation – In this condition, the tricuspid valve does not close properly. This improper closure, causes blood to flow back into the right atrium.
Pulmonary valve disease – This is broadly divided into two categories as outlined below.
- Pulmonary stenosis – This refers to the condition where the pulmonary valve is narrowed. This restricts the flow of blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Pulmonary regurgitation – This refers to the condition where the pulmonary valve does not close properly. This causes leakage of blood back into the right ventricle.
The above conditions may arise or develop as a result of one or many factors. For instance, it could be due age, infections, congenital conditions, or other conditions. The treatment for the above conditions may involve a combination of medicines, changes in lifestyle, or surgical procedures. This is to either repair or replace the valve affected by the condition.
What Are The Different Congenital Heart Disease Treatments?
With the information about valvular heart disease causes outlined above, it is time to look at the different treatment options available. The various approaches presently available are listed below. Before that it is time to understand a little about genetic testing for detection of congenital conditions and inherited conditions.
Advanced genetic testing facilities are presently available in Tamil Nadu, offering you the option to check for inherited conditions or congenital conditions. The test involves drawing of saliva or blood sample that is then analysed in detail. The generated reports offer clear indications of genetic components of heart disease conditions. This helps to identify future or lifetime risk of heart disease from genetic reasons. Based on the report, cardiologists recommend treatment options to minimize the risk.
Congenital heart disease treatment depends on the actual defect, the intensity or severity of the condition, and other factors. For instance, the age of the patient, existing health condition and other diseases are taken into consideration. Treatment types include the following:
Medicines – The management of certain congenital heart diseases involves medications. This is mainly to improve heart function, regulate blood pressure levels, bring down excess fluid, and prevent the formation of blood clots. Medications used for the above, commonly include diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and anticoagulants.
Catheter-based procedures – Also known as interventional cardiology, this refers to procedures aimed to resolve or manage certain conditions.
- Balloon valvuloplasty – This involves the insertion of a balloon catheter through a blood vessel. This is then inflated to open up a narrowed valve.
- Atrial septal defect closure – This involves a catheter to position a device that plugs holes in the heart. This helps to prevent opting for open-heart surgery.
- Stent placement – This involves the placement of stents to widen narrowed blood vessels, restoring normal blood flow.
Surgery – These procedures are necessary for conditions that cannot be resolved or managed by other options. This is also often the only option at a particular stage of the disease.
- Open-heart surgery – When there are complex defects, an open-heart surgery helps to repair structural issues. For instance, holes in the heart, abnormal vessels, or malformed valves are fixed through this process. This is achieved by closing holes, repairing or replacing valves, or re-routing the flow of blood.
- Fontan procedure – This is typically used for single-ventricle defects. The procedure is used to re-route blood directly to the lungs, and bypassing the right side of the heart.
- Repair of tetralogy of fallot – This involves a procedure to resolve multiple defects. For instance, closing a VSD, widening narrowed pathways, and freeing obstructions.
Heart transplant – This is another option in critical cases, when repair is not option. This is also necessary when multiple surgeries have not brought about the desired improvements in the heart function.
Hybrid procedures – This refers to a combination of catheter-based and surgical options, for complex heart defects. This offers the benefit of a less invasive approach when compared with traditional surgery.
Changes to lifestyle – Regardless of the treatment approach, changes to lifestyle are mandatory. The type and intensity of changes may differ. For instance, switching to a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking, managing stress, and limiting strenuous physical activity.
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Shetty B s a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).