There are two types of aortic aneurysm surgery. Conventional surgical repair involves an incision into the chest or abdomen to have direct visualization of the aneurysm. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says endovascular repair is the...
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the aorta enlarges abnormally due to damage or weakness in the vessel wall. It is a potentially fatal condition--with a 90 percent fatality rate--and is the third-leading cause of death. Because of...
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially very dangerous condition that's usually fixed via surgery when the aneurysm is over 5cm (usually detected and measured via ultrasound). Mortality rates for open repair have gotten much better...
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 aorta is the main blood vessel supplying blood to the entire body; the abdominal aorta is the part of the aorta that passes through the abdominal cavity. Surgical repair of the abdominal aorta can be done through an incision in the abdomen,...
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...
Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, is prescribed by doctors to treat high cholesterol. Some people also take over-the-counter niacin supplements. If you have colitis, an inflammation of your colon, niacin could make your condition worse. High...
A variety of treadmill fitness and stress tests are available, but the commonly used treadmill ramp test is the Bruce protocol. It is the easiest to administer and is widely available in clinical and fitness locations. It assesses maximum oxygen...
An abdominal aneurysm, also known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, describes a weakening and bulging of the aorta. The aorta is a major blood vessel that connects directly to the heart and runs through the chest and abdomen before splitting up...
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...
Aortic aneurysms occur 65 percent of the time in the abdomen, according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Abdominal aortic aneurysms, called AAA, can be repaired by conventional surgery or endovascular surgery. In conventional surgery, the...
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...
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...
An aortic aneurysm, or an out-pouching of the main vessel supplying blood from the heart to other organs, is an often asymptomatic condition. In fact, many aneurysms are found incidentally on a routine exam by your physician. When large enough,...
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...
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is the localized ballooning or abnormal bulging in the artery walls, as defined by Medline Plus, a website supported by the National Institutes of Health. The major blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the...
The genus Arnica represents more than 25 species of flowering plants that make up the Asteraceae family. The variety used for medicinal purposes is A. montana, a species native to the mountainous regions of Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Some...
The aorta is the largest artery in the human body and carries oxygenated blood from the heart to other tissues and organs. The portion of the aorta that runs into the abdomen is called the abdominal aorta. The abdominal aorta can become weak,...
The atherosclerotic disease of the abdominal aorta is commonly known as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Medline Plus states that most abdominal aortic aneurysms are caused by atherosclerosis, a fatty deposit of the inner lining of the arteries....
Rheumatic heart disease is a condition of the heart caused by damage from rheumatic fever. A strep throat infection can progress to rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever affects many of the body's connective tissues, especially in the heart, brain,...
The aortic artery is the largest blood vessel in your body, and it carries the most blood throughout your body. The aorta leaves your heart and travels down through the chest into the abdomen. At the abdomen, the aorta splits in two smaller...
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 aorta is the largest artery in the body and is responsible for carrying the blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The section of the aorta that descends through the chest is called the thoracic aorta and is divided into three...
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...
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...
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...
Your heart is the most important organ in your body when it comes to all types of physical exercise. Without it beating up to 200 strokes a minute, your muscles' oxygen demands could not be met. The heart is a complex pump featuring four chambers...
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...
