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Aortic valve insufficiency and its treatment

There is a classification which allows to evaluate the compensatory possibilities of the organism and the severity of hemodynamic disorders. There are 5 stages.

  1. Stage I. Full payment in the presence of initial symptoms while listening to. Patient complaints do not exist.
  2. Stage II. Hidden heart failure. Using ECG revealed signs of increased left ventricle and overload. They have difficulties during exercise.
  3. Stage III. The appearance of the characteristic compressive pains, noticeable difficulties during exercise. Radiograph and ECG evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and symptoms of coronary insufficiency.
  4. Stage IV decompensation. The appearance of cardiac asthma, severe shortness of breath with slight exertion, enlargement of the liver.
  5. V stage — terminal. Rapidly progressing congestive heart failure, there are degenerative processes in the organs.

Using echocardiography it is possible to define the length of the jet of regurgitation is back flow of blood. According to the study there are three degrees of aortic insufficiency:

  1. 1 degree — up to 5 mm from the aortic valve;
  2. Stage 2 — from 5 to 10 mm;
  3. Stage 3 — more than 10 mm.

Diagnosis

When listening the patient the doctor may suspect the fault at the characteristic heart murmur. After that, the doctor will ask about your General health complaints and the presence of heart disease in family members. In addition, when examination revealed pallor of the patient, the amplified pulse of the carotid arteries, the pulsation of the pupils, a shake of the head, throbbing of the sky.

Then, a electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, x-ray examination. Echocardiogram allows you to see the picture of the damaged valve, assess the severity of his defeat and the changes in the left ventricle. If the diagnosis is confirmed, find out how much blood bypasses the damaged valve.

Reasons

Any damage to the valve, which violated its functions, may lead to the development of aortic insufficiency. Causes of damage to the valve may be quite a lot.

  • Congenital aortic valve in children.
  • Rheumatic fever.
  • Endocarditis — a bacterial infection in the endocardium, which lines the inner surface of the heart.
  • Age-related changes associated with wear and tear of the aortic valve.
  • The increase in the aorta due to arterial hypertension.
  • Hardening of the arteries associated with atherosclerosis.
  • An aortic dissection, where the inner layer separates from the average.
  • The malfunction of an artificial valve.

More rare are consideredcauses such as radiation therapy of the chest, some diffuse connective tissue disease, ankylosing spondylitis, syphilis, certain autoimmune diseases, injuries of the aortic valve.

The most frequent causes of acute aortic valve regurgitation is endocarditis, aortic dissection, problems with artificial valve injury.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the symptoms and causes of disease. When first diagnosed the disease in the absence of symptoms, as a rule, treatment is not assigned. However, the patient will need to see your doctor regularly to monitor status and, if necessary, to prevent the progression of the disease. If you have heart failure, it is first necessary to carry out her treatment. Of drugs prescribed AFP inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, vasodilators.

If the disease is detected at the stage of a long chronic course, the left ventricle has lost its contractility, there are characteristic symptoms of any severity, surgical treatment is indicated. Carried out an operation for valve replacement.

Emergency surgical treatment is required in acute aortic valve regurgitation to avoid death.

The success of surgical treatment depends on what stage it was carried out. When even mild symptoms require surgical intervention. The sooner you get surgery, the more favorable the prognosis.