Today's Patient Story:
Quick Quiz: Do Quadricuspid Heart Valves Exist?
Since it is the Fourth of July weekend here in the United States, I thought it would be interesting to write a blog that connects the number “4″ to heart valves. That said, here goes nothin’…
In the past, we’ve discussed the unique anatomy of heart valve leaflets - the tissue flaps that open and close in the valve to ensure that blood flows in one direction through the heart. While the aortic, tricuspid and pulmonary valves typically have three leaflets (also known as heart valve flaps), the mitral valve only has two leaflets. Here is a diagram of the human heart valves illustrating this point.
We have also discussed the genetic issues which produce irregular leaflet counts. For example, congenital bicuspid aortic valves have two leaflets which can severely compromise blood flow through the heart. And, we have also learned about extraordinary, patient stories in which heart valves are unicuspid - having only one heart valve leaflet. Remember Shannon’s unicuspid heart valve discovery?
This brings me to my heart valve trivia question of the day. That question is, “Do quadricuspid heart valves - valves with four leaflets - exist?” (To find out the answer, scroll below this image of a quadricuspid heart valve… Hint! Hint!)
Although rare, the picture above shows an actual quadricuspid heart valve. If you look close enough, you can see four, distinct leaflets within the valve. So, yes! Quadricuspid valves do exist. Here is another picture that shows a heart valve with four tissue flaps.
So you know, I just exchanged emails with Nova, a patient preparing for quadricuspid aortic valve replacement.
I hope that helps you learn more about the variable leaflet structure of our heart valves - especially quadricuspid heart valves!!!
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the opportunities, the challenges and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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July 4th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Adam,
Funny that you should bring this up…I had aortic valve replacement in November of 2008 and was told I had 4 leaflets in my aortic valve. I thought I was hearing things….Jean Karloski
July 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
How does the cardiologist know how many leaflets are involved in the aortic valve?
July 6th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Good question Rozdp!
Use of a standard echocardiogram or TEE (transesophageal echo) help the cardiologist detect how many leaflets are in the aortic valve.
Keep on tickin!
Adam
July 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I’m only 30…and I had my aortic valve replaced on May 26th, and I too had a quadricuspid valve…do you know how hard it is to find info on one of those? lol…
by the way, I read your book before going in for surgery, and would just like to say that it REALLY helped me through the process…Thank you so much for sharing your entire experience with us valve replacement patients.