Question 1

What is the significance of an extra heart valve?

Accepted Answer

Not sure what this means.  I have never heard of an extra heart valve.  There are cases when a person is born with a quadricuspid aortic valve (one leaflet too many) and these valves generally develop issues over the person's lifetime, but I have not heard of an extra heart valve.

Question 2

What is the significance of a sticky heart valve?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the degree of tightness (stenosis). In the US, the aortic valve is the most common valve affected by this condition. If the valve is considered severely stenosed, then over time it will lead to congestive heart failure and it has to be replaced.

Question 3

What is the significance of a heart valve tendon?

Accepted Answer

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 4

What is the significance of a distressed heart valve?

Accepted Answer

There are many causes of a "distressed" valave and the significance depend on the cause as well as on the extent of the"distress.".

Question 5

What is the significance of a narrowed heart valve?

Accepted Answer

A heart valve that is narrowed has a restriction on the amount of blood that can flow across it as the heart pumps. This restriction, often referred to as a "stenosis" can vary from very mild and insignificant to life threatening. A valve is usually measured by the area of the valve. As that area decreases the flow likewise decreases.  When diagnosed early, many stenotic valves can be fixed.

Question 6

Can a leaky heart valve heal?

Accepted Answer

Many many children have a "heart mummurs" or so called leaky valves and often they do disappear by adolescent age or earlier. Unfortunately for adults, leaky valves typically results from diseases and they don't go away without treatments. If you have it, check with your doc for regular monitoring. Some type may require antibiotics before dental work etc..Thus should consult your doc..
Good luck.

Question 7

How to care heart valve diseases?

Accepted Answer

Your question is too broad to answer. Please restate with your actual concern.

Question 8

Is a sticky heart valve inherited?

Accepted Answer

Heart valves function to seal a chamber (closed) so blood can fill. When the chamber contracts the valve opens to allow blood to exit.  When the valves do not function properly, we usually refer to a valve leaking or not closing correctly (insufficieny or regurgitation) or not opening correctly (stenotic). So when you describe the vavle being "sticky" can you describe it in these terms?

Question 9

How do heart valve replacements work?

Accepted Answer

The heart is stopped. The patient is placed on bypass which pumps blood and breathes for the patient while the heart and lungs are not being used. The old valve is removed and a new valve is stitched in place. This can be either a "tissue valve" from a pig or cow, or a mechanical valve which is completely artificial.

Question 10

How is a heart valve surgically repaired?

Accepted Answer

Repair most commonly is done on mitral valve, especially when mitral prolapse is present. The excess, "floppy" tissue causing the valve to prolapse is excised to make leaflets more taught. Sometimes an artificial ring is inserted around the base of the leaflets to cinch the whole apparatus together, if it has become dilated, preventing leaflets from closing up against each other.

What is the significance of an extra heart valve