Aortic valve replacement surgery is a major heart procedure designed to help restore functionality to the aortic valve according to the Texas Heart Institute. The surgery may be performed in response to a valve defect, calcification of the valve...
The heart functions to pump blood to and from the lungs to receive oxygen and then pump the oxygenated blood through the body. Blood flows through the four chambers of the heart through heart valves that open and close as the chambers contract and...
The aortic valve is the one-way outlet between the lower left heart chamber and the aorta, the large artery that carries oxygenated blood to the body. Malformations, infections and other disease processes can cause obstruction or leaking of the...
Blood normally passes through the aortic valve to the aorta and out of the heart. Problems with the valve can obstruct blood flow or cause blood to leak from the valve as it closes. When defects in the aortic valve cannot be repaired, doctors may...
Narrowing of the aortic valve is referred to as aortic stenosis. Caused by the inability of the valve to open normally, the heart has to work harder to pump blood past the narrow valve. This disease is mainly diagnosed using Doppler...
Aortic valve stenosis is a condition in which the heart's aortic valve narrows, preventing the valve from opening fully. The narrowed heart valve obstructs blood flow, causing the heart to have to work harder. Over time the heart becomes weakened...
The valves in the heart that keep blood flowing in the right direction may become defective, requiring one or more of them to need repair or replacement. Heart valve replacements can be done via open heart surgery or using a minimally invasive...
A buildup of calcium on your heart increases your risk of heart disease and heart attack. When calcium builds up in your aortic valves, the blood flow to your heart is reduced, which can cause these life-threatening medical problems. If your...
Heart valve replacement surgeries are used to treat patients with torn, obstructed or leaking valves that cannot be patched or repaired. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, research shows that more than one-third of those...
Bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVSD) is a group of disorders that affect the heart. The aortic valve is a part of the heart that normally has three cusps (also called leaflets) that manages the blood flow in the heart's left ventricle. The...
When a heart valve is severely damaged or diseased, a surgeon may recommend replacement of the valve. This requires open heart surgery in order to access the valve and replace it. The patient will be given either a mechanical valve--one made...
Aortic valve replacement is an open-heart surgical procedure for treating a diseased aortic valve. Wearing out due to age is the most common cause of aortic valve disease, according to Thoralf M. Sundt, M.D., member of The Society of Thoracic...
The heart contains four chambers with a wall separating the right and left sides. The two upper chambers, known as the atria, receive blood while the two lower chambers, known as the ventricles, pump blood. Blood flows in only one direction...
The four valves of the heart--the mitral, aortic, tricuspid and pulmonic--separate the four chambers of the heart. These valves are critical for maintaining the direction of blood flow through the heart, and when working properly, allow the heart...
