The aortic valve becomes calcified and deformed, resulting in severe narrowing and unable to open properly. This means that the heart is forced to pass through a very narrow valve as it pumps blood throughout the body. Therefore, the heart muscle is under greater strain and load. This may cause the heart muscle to thicken over time and weaken at a later stage, leading to failure (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). This condition, which impairs the person's health and causes movement restriction, is heart failure. Continuation of stenosis in the valve and heart failure is a life-threatening risky situation. It often develops due to age-related wear and tear on the aortic valve and the settling of lime deposits, narrowing the valve and restricting its movements. Having had rheumatic fever, radiotherapy, and high cholesterol facilitate the development of the disease.
The aortic valve has 3 leaflets. Sometimes it may be congenital with 2 leaflets (Bicuspid Aortic Valve). Aortic stenosis usually does not cause symptoms for a long time. The first symptom is rapid fatigue with effort.
If the aortic valve area decreases below a certain value, the patient's complaints begin. In advanced aortic valve stenosis, symptoms such as chest pain, feeling of tightness in the chest, feeling of faintness, imbalance, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fainting after tiring work are observed, and if not treated immediately after this stage, the patient's life-threatening risk is quite high.
During the examination performed due to the patient's complaints; A definitive diagnosis is made when the doctor hears a heart murmur and after preliminary tests, echocardiography and, if necessary, cardiac catheterization and angiography. It is not possible to correct the calcified stenosis that has formed in the aortic valve over the years with drug treatment. However, auxiliary drug treatments are provided for heart failure, arrhythmia, and the risk of clot formation secondary to aortic valve disease.
Treatment of aortic stenosis is performed surgically:
Heart valve Most of the surgeries are performed for aortic stenosis. Surgical treatment of the aortic valve; Calcified after open heart surgery, leaflets thickened, stuck together, severe movement limitation It is the replacement of the formed valve with a metal or biological tissue valve. Biological valves are more preferred in older patients and female patients of childbearing age. During the monitoring period after valve application, blood thinners (warfarin) drugs should be used regularly. After the use of tissue valves, it is possible to use blood thinners for a certain period of time and then stop them.
When performing aortic valve surgery, if the diameter of the enlarged Ascending Aorta is less than 50 mm, with Aortoplasty. Aortic diameter can be reduced. Thus, the possibility of rupture and dissection is reduced. If the diameter of the Ascending Aorta exceeds 50-55 mm and there is a sinus valsalva aneurysm, the Ascending Aorta may need to be replaced with an artificial tube vessel (graft) along with the aortic valve replacement.
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