Heart Valve Flaps - What Are They? How Do They Work?
I just received a question from Laura which asks, “My mom was recently diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation. During her discussion with the cardiologist, he said that her valve flaps were not closing tightly and causing a leak. What exactly does this mean?”
Understanding heart valve anatomy is critical to better understanding the diagnosis of heart valve disease and the surgical steps required to fix the problem. That is why this question about heart valve flaps is such a great inquiry.
Heart valve flaps are also known as heart valve leaflets. The flaps, or leaflets, are composed of tissue. The flaps sole purpose is to open-and-close tightly to secure that blood flows through the heart in one direction. Each heart valve has three (3) heart valve flaps, except for the mitral valve which has two (2) heart valve flaps. Below you can see two diagrams of the human heart* with the white valve flaps in the opened and closed position.
When the flaps fail to seal properly, heart valve disease can occur and a symptomatic heart murmur can develop. There are several different types of heart valve disease caused by faulty valve functioning. In some cases, the heart valve flaps can suffer from calcium-deposit build-up, known as valve calcification.
Personally, I suffered from two, heart valve flap issues which triggered severe aortic stenosis and my need for aortic valve replacement. My aortic valve was bicuspid AND it was calcified. FYI, here is a picture of a calcified aortic valve (bicuspid). You can see that the aortic valve flaps are fused bicuspid and there are white calcium deposit on the leaflet tissue.
I hope that helps explain more about heart valve flaps.
Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
* Picture Source: Modified from A Carpentier, DH Adams, F Filsoufi (in press). Carpentier’s Techniques of Valve Reconstruction. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
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August 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Adam… would you please post something regarding the risks of mitral valve surgical repair using the robotic surgery system ve traditional surgical methods. I understand the benefits. Are the risks any greater with robotic surgery?
Thank you, Tom Lamont
August 12th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Hi Tom,
I have been feverishly researching for the same information since recently being told I need MV repair. Some sources say that the robot assisted technique has not proven itself. After I hear from Cleveland Clinic, I will have a second opinion at Brigham Women’s in Boston, where they do not offer robot assisted, so I will hear the other side of the equation there. Will share that info when I get it.
Winona
November 25th, 2008 at 12:11 am
My echocardiogram came back fine but the nurse said the flaps were open a little a very minor problem nothing to worry about,but of course I am worried I get arrythmia & I am on medication for it,also I was born with a short circuit of the heart but I am mainly worried about the flaps. Can you explain this to me? Thank You