Q: what is the importance of heart valve repair?

Avoids replacement: Allows restoration of a function and form in the native valve and corrects any malfunction.

Q: why could you get inflammation of a heart valve?

Usually an infection: Bacteria in the blood stream from an infection can infect a heart valve causing severe inflammation and damage and leading to heart failure, stroke, need for heart valve surgery and/or death. Occasionally, heart valves can be inflamed from other chronic inflammatory medical conditions (such as lupus).

Q: what is the significance of a heart valve tendon?

Chordae tendineae: Chordae tendineae are the support structures of the heart valves and the ventricles themselves. It has now been shown that when the mitral valve is replace and chordae taken out, the ventricle does not function properly. This has led most centers now to do the best they can to repair the mitral valve as opposed to replacing it; even with replacement, the surgeon tries to save the chordae.

Q: who are the makers of the artificial heart valve?

Depends on the type.: There are several "artificial" heart valves, each with different manufacturers. Here in the US - surgical mechanical valves - mostly St. Jude. surgical biologic valves - mostly Edwards Lifesciences. percutaneous (stented) valve - Edwards currently available in US, but other companies like Medtronic and St. Jude (and other small companies) have devices in trials or experimental phase.

Question 1

what causes a leaky heart valve?

Accepted Answer

Not man made.: All biologic valves leak a little.  They do not close perfectly.

Question 2

which heart valve closes first in the heart?

Accepted Answer

Triscupid valve: As the heart contracts, the tricuspid valve is able to close before the mitral valve because it faces a lower systemic venous pressure compared to a slightly higher pulmonary venous pressure faced by the mitral valve.

Question 3

what happens if a heart valve doesn't close all the way?

Accepted Answer

If a valve doesn't : close properly, it will tend to leak. the amount and consequences of leakage can depend on a lot of things, like heart size and function, as well as your blood pressure. for more details, see a doctor.

Question 4

could a heart valve repair itself?

Accepted Answer

No: If a heart valve is leaky or stenotic these conditions do not generally improve without intervention. This is due to the fact that once abnormal mechanical forces start they can begin a cycle of negative effects. The rate of progression varies tremendously, often related to the root cause. Many people, for example, with trivial leaky valves live normally without ever having any problems.

Question 5

what is a sticky heart valve called?

Accepted Answer

Heart valve: We don't use the terminology 'sticky heart valve'. You may mean a stenotic valve.

Question 6

how safe are  heart valve transplants?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Do you mean replacements?  This type of surgery should only be performed at experienced centers.  "experienced " surgeons do at least 50 valve surgeries per year. In seasoned hands, relatively safe surgery with a mortality rate <5%.

Question 7

what is the importance of heart valve repair?

Accepted Answer

Avoids replacement: Allows restoration of a function and form in the native valve and corrects any malfunction.

Question 8

why could you get inflammation of a heart valve?

Accepted Answer

Usually an infection: Bacteria in the blood stream from an infection can infect a heart valve causing severe inflammation and damage and leading to heart failure, stroke, need for heart valve surgery and/or death.  Occasionally, heart valves can be inflamed from other chronic inflammatory medical conditions (such as lupus).

Question 9

what is the significance of a heart valve tendon?

Accepted Answer

Chordae tendineae: Chordae tendineae are the support structures of the heart valves and the ventricles themselves.  It has now been shown that when the mitral valve is replace and chordae taken out, the ventricle does not function properly.  This has led most centers now to do the best they can to repair the mitral valve as opposed to replacing it; even with replacement, the surgeon tries to save the chordae.

Question 10

who are the makers of the artificial heart valve?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the type.: There are several "artificial" heart valves, each with different manufacturers.
Here in the US - surgical mechanical valves - mostly St. Jude.
surgical biologic valves - mostly Edwards Lifesciences.
percutaneous (stented) valve - Edwards currently available in US, but other companies like Medtronic and St. Jude (and other small companies) have devices in trials or experimental phase.

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Could a heart valve repair itself?

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What is a sticky heart valve called?

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How safe are heart valve transplants?

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What is the importance of heart valve repair?

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What is the significance of a heart valve tendon?

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Who are the makers of the artificial heart valve?

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