Aortic Valve Disease
Your heart has four valves that regulate the directional flow of blood through your heart. Properly working valves are instrumental for the pumping mechanism of the heart. The aortic valve ensures the one-way flow blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the human body supplying oxygen rich blood to the entire circulatory system. Aortic valve disease is usually related to congenital malformations of the valve leaflets, degenerative diseases of the valve tissues or the aorta itself, rheumatic fever secondary to preceding streptococcal infection, or endocarditis (direct infection of the valve ).
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic stenosis is a condition of the aortic valve which occurs when the valve narrows and is unable to open completely. Aortic stenosis restricts the flow of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. The obstruction caused by aortic valve stenosis causes the left ventricle to work harder to pump blood through your body. Because the left ventricle has to pump with more force the muscle tends to enlarge and become hard. Over time, the thickening and enlarging of the ventricular muscle weakens the heart and causes congestive heart failure. Aortic stenosis is also linked to cardiac rhythm disturbance and heart attack, and can increase your risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart or valves. Severe aortic stenosis is a major cause of sudden death.
Aortic Insufficiency
Aortic insufficiency occurs when the leaflets of the aortic valve fail to meet when the valve closes. This results in leakage of blood backwards into the ventricle. This overloads the heart with blood requiring it to work much harder to “repump” the leaking blood. This process eventually leads to ventricular dilatation and congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure in patients with aortic insufficiency may indicate an inoperable condition which rapidly leads to death.
Surgical Treatment
Aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation is treated surgically by replacing the valve. Valve replacements are performed using either mechanical valves made from inert materials or with biological valves derived from animals (pig, cow, or horse) or human valves harvested from organ donors. In most cases, long lasting repair of the aortic valve is not possible. The results of early surgery are excellent with minimal risk and excellent long term outcomes. Unfortunately, most cases of aortic stenosis or insufficiency are not referred for surgery early enough. Many patients live with diminished capacity for many years. They are only referred for valve replacement after they experience congestive heart failure, which increases surgical risk and lessens the chance of a complete return to a normal lifestyle.
Dr. Thorne, Dr. Schorlemmer, and Dr. Affleck specialize in cardiac valve repair and replacement at Western
Cardiovascular Associates. Learn about his innovative aortic valve replacement surgery and their aortic valve
repair procedures. As the recipient of the prestigious Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Fellowship from Boston
Children's Hospital, Dr. Thorne not only treats adults but is a highly qualified pediatric surgeon. Whether you
live in Salt Lake City, Ogden, or Utah Valley, or anywhere in the country, contact Western
Cardiovascular Associates or call us at 801-743-4750 today.