```*Heart Valve Disease``` * Is a condition in which one or more of the heart's valves are damaged or not functioning properly, leading to disrupted blood flow. *Types of Heart Valve Diseases:* There are four main valves in the heart: - Mitral Valve - Aortic Valve - Tricuspid Valve - Pulmonary Valve Each can be affected by: - *Stenosis* (narrowing) - *Regurgitation* (leakage/backflow) - *Prolapse* (mainly mitral) *1. Mitral Valve Disease* a. Mitral Stenosis - *Definition*: Narrowing of mitral valve → obstructs blood from LA to LV - *Pathophysiology*: ↑ LA pressure → pulmonary hypertension → right heart strain - *Symptoms*: Dyspnea, orthopnea, fatigue, palpitations - *Diagnostics*: Echocardiogram, CXR (LA enlargement), ECG - *Management*: Diuretics, beta-blockers, valve replacement/repair b. Mitral Regurgitation - *Definition*: Incomplete closure of mitral valve → backflow into LA - *Pathophysiology*: LV dilation, ↓ cardiac output - *Symptoms*: Dyspnea, fatigue, murmur - *Management*: Vasodilators, surgery if severe *2. Aortic Valve Disease* a. Aortic Stenosis - *Definition*: Narrowing of aortic valve → obstruction of LV outflow - *Pathophysiology*: LV hypertrophy → ischemia - *Symptoms*: Syncope, angina, dyspnea *Diagnostics*: Echo, ECG, cardiac cath - *Management*: Valve replacement is definitive b. Aortic Regurgitation - *Definition*: Backflow from aorta to LV - *Symptoms*: Bounding pulse, murmur, fatigue - *Management*: Vasodilators, valve replacement *3. Tricuspid Valve Disease* a. Tricuspid Stenosis - Rare, usually due to rheumatic disease - Symptoms: Hepatomegaly, ascites, edema - Management: Diuretics, surgery b. Tricuspid Regurgitation - *Causes*: RV dilation, pulmonary HTN - *Symptoms*: JVD, edema, ascites - *Management*: Diuretics, valve repair *4. Pulmonary Valve Disease* a. Pulmonary Stenosis - Mostly congenital - Symptoms: Fatigue, murmur, cyanosis - Management: Balloon valvuloplasty or surgery b. Pulmonary Regurgitation - Often from pulmonary HTN - Symptoms: Usually mild - Management: Treat underlying cause *Common Diagnostic Tests* - *Echocardiography* (TTE/TEE) – gold standard - ECG – rhythm, hypertrophy - Chest X-ray – heart size, pulmonary congestion - Cardiac catheterization – pressure measurements - MRI/CT – structural view *Rationale* Early detection and appropriate treatment prevent complications like heart failure, arrhythmia bas, and stroke. Valve repair or replacement can restore normal function and improve life expectancy.