Michigan Cardiology and Michigan Heart Disease | Nicholas Tepe, MD

MICHIGAN CARDIOLOGY

Leading the way as one of the top Michigan cardiology and Michigan heart care hospitals with a full array of cardiac treatments and programs that set new standards for heart care every day, that's the St. Joseph Mercy Oakland way. From heart valve replacement to coronary artery bypass, our doctors are at the forefront of heart procedures and treatments.

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OF THE MEDICAL REPORT

Nicholas Tepe, MD

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
Cardiovascular Surgeon

THE FACTS ABOUT AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Background

The aortic valve is one of the four valves of the heart. Located between the left ventricle and the aorta, it opens and closes with each heart beat to carry oxygen rich blood throughout the body.

Podcast Posted: 10/30/2007
Duration: 01:00

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The aortic valve can malfunction for a number of reasons. The most common causes are related to either congenital aortic valve disease (a condition present at birth), or acquired aortic valve disease (a condition that occurs with normal aging).

Aortic valve replacement is an open heart surgical procedure that removes a malfunctioning aortic valve and replaces it with a new one when either of the following conditions is present:

Aortic Stenosis:
With this condition, the aortic valve fails to open fully — thereby obstructing blood flow out from the heart. Common causes include rheumatic fever, degenerative calcification, and congenital diseases such as bicuspid aortic valve.

Aortic Regurgitation:
With this condition, the aortic valve is inadequate and allows blood to flow back to the heart in the wrong direction. Common causes include dilation of the aorta, previous rheumatic fever, an infection.

“A narrow valve makes the heart work harder just to pump the blood through the valve to the body. A leaky valve lets blood back into the heart after it has been pumped out. As a result, the heart has to pump more blood forward to compensate for the blood that is leaking backwards,” says Nicholas Tepe, MD and SJMO cardiovascular surgeon. “In both instances, the additional work may cause symptoms of heart failure — such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness.”

There are a variety of natural or biological valves that can be used to replace an abnormal valve, including valves made from animal tissues, valves retrieved from human cadavers, and valves moved from the patient’s pulmonary artery on the right side of the heart to the aortic position on the left. “There are also mechanical heart valves that are sturdier but require blood-thinners,” adds Dr. Tepe.

ADVANTAGES
“The success rate of heart valve surgery is high,” says Dr. Tepe. “This invaluable procedure can relieve symptoms and prolong life. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within about six weeks of surgery.”

CAUTIONS
The decision to have valve replacement surgery should be based on several important factors, including age, general health, specific medical conditions, and heart function. Two common diagnostic tests that are used to determine scope and severity of the condition include an echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. An echocardiogram can highlight any enlargement of the heart and help to measure the degree of stenosis or regurgitation. A cardiac catheterization can highlight any narrowing of the coronary arteries.

REFERRAL
Please contact the SJMO physician referral line at 800.372.6094 to find an SJMO cardiologist near you.

THE MEDICAL REPORT LIBRARY:

MICHIGAN CARDIOLOGY

	Carotid Artery Disease Nishit Choksi, MD Posted: 5/9/2008
	Cardiac Ablation Russell Steinman, MD Posted: 5/1/2008
	Peripheral Arterial Disease Abdul Halabi, MD Posted: 4/25/2008
	Women and Heart Disease Gheorghe Marinescu, MD Posted: 10/30/2007
	Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Kirit Patel, MD Posted: 10/30/2007
	Aortic Valve Replacement Nicholas Tepe, MD Posted: 10/30/2007

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