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Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog
Double Heart Valve Surgery Patient, Adam Pick, Blogs About
Heart Valve Replacement and Heart Valve Repair Surgery |
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Okay. It’s time for some good ole’ heart valve trivia.
The question is, “How many people are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year in the United States?”
a. 300,000 people
b. 500,000 people
c. 3,000,000 people
d. 5,000,000 people
e. 30,000,000 people
To see the answer, scroll below the picture of the diseased mitral valve leaflets:
I just received a great, follow-up question about medical tests used to diagnose heart valve disease from Sophie.
Sophie writes, “Adam – Thanks for the recent blog about cardiac MRIs and echocardiograms. Unfortunately, my aortic regurgitation continues to become more severe. It looks like I’ll need surgery soon. To better diagnose it, I’ve been told I may need a transesophageal echocardiogram. Can you tell me what happens during a TEE? Is it painful? Thanks, Sophie”
To help Sophie better understand what happens during a transesophageal echocardiogram, I was super lucky to find an educational video that details this medical examination used to help diagnose heart valve disease.
If you have never heard the term before, a transesophageal echo uses an ultrasound transducer that is positioned on an endoscope and guided down the patient’s throat into the esophagus (the “food pipe” leading from the mouth into the stomach). The TEE test provides a close look at the heart’s valves and chambers, without interference from the ribs or lungs. TEE is often used when the results from standard echo tests are not sufficient, or when your doctor wants a closer look at your heart, according to The Cleveland Clinic.
I hope that helps Sophie (and perhaps you) learn a little more about transesophageal echocardiograms.
Keep on tickin!
Through your stories and my ongoing research, I have learned that properly diagnosing heart valve disease can be tricky. That said, I always encourage patients to get a second opinion prior to any surgical treatment (if possible).
However, Gregg just sent me an interesting question about the use of M.R.I.’s as a diagnostic tool for valvular disorders. [If you have never seen an M.R.I. of the human heart before, please see below... Can you identify the two valves that are opening-and-closing in this image?]
Gregg writes, “Hi Adam - Having been diagnosed with a bicuspid valve and an enlarged aorta, I am scheduled for a follow-up echocardiogram this month to determine if there have been any changes to my current condition. My question to you is whether an echo is okay or should I get an MRI? I ask this because during a consult with a surgeon – who is well known for his work in valve repair and valve replacement – he recommended an M.R.I. as a more thorough test. I am curious to know what you and your readers think? Thanks. Gregg”
Jimmy just sent me a great question about the use of medications to treat heart valve disease.
He writes, “Adam – On Friday, I was diagnosed with severe regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse. I’ve been short of breath for sometime but had no idea it was due to a heart valve problem. My cardiologist thinks I need a valve replacement within the next six months. I’m shocked and in ‘Why Me?’ mode right now. Given my disbelief, I’m curious to know if there are any medications that can treat heart valve disease? As you may have guessed, I’m not very excited about open heart surgery. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jimmy”
I have to admit… Jimmy’s question just brought back a memory. It was November, 2005 when my cardiologist at the time, Dr. Bad Bedside Manner, informed me (i) that my aortic stenosis was now severe, (ii) that my heart was dilated and (iii) that I needed open heart surgery soon. I’ll never forget that uncomfortable moment. I’ll also never forget one of the first questions I asked the stoic doctor, “Can we treat this with medication?”
Dr. Bad Bedside Manner snipped back at me, “Not at this point. Your valve is both stenotic and suffering from regurgitation. Medication won’t make any difference. You need a valve replacement. Any other questions?”
Severely Diseased Heart Valve
The doctor then glared at me – which made me feel one inch tall – and closed my medical chart as if to signal he had other, more important things to do. (So you know, I never saw Dr. Bad Bedside Manner again. His diagnosis and prognosis was correct. But, his inability to relate or connect with me as a patient did not feel right. Plus, Dr. Bad Bedside Manner pushed to schedule an immediate angiogram which raised some red flags.)
Sorry for going off on a quick tangent… I’ll now get back to Jimmy’s question.
As noted above, my bicuspid aortic valve was in very bad shape and needed to be replaced. However, you should know that if you are diagnosed with mild or moderate forms of heart valve disease, medication may be prescribed by your doctor to help relieve symptoms and decrease the risk of further damage to your heart.
Some of the medications that may be prescribed to help manage heart valve disorders are:
Although helpful, these medications will not reverse pre-existing damage to your heart valves.
As the Mayo Clinic reports, “Medications can help reduce the heart’s workload and regulate its rhythm. In some cases, medication can slow progressive mitral valve disease. However, no medications can cure heart valve disease.“
In some cases, valvular damage will progress even if the patient is using the above-referenced medications. In those situations, the patient typically requires surgical treatment in the form of a heart valve repair or heart valve replacement surgery.
I hope this helps you better understand how medications are used to help, but not reverse, heart valve disease.
Keep on tickin!
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!)
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