Insufficiency of the aortic valve is characterized by a violation of its functioning. The main task of the valve is to eject blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. There it is enriched with oxygen, after which it is carried to all organs. Between the cardiac contractions the aortic valve is in a closed state, thereby preventing the blood from returning back. Therefore, it can be understood that with dysfunction of the valve, some of the blood can still return to the left ventricle, which causes the remaining organs to lack blood and make the heart work more actively, which leads to negative consequences in the form of an increase in the size of the heart.
Symptoms of valve failure
Aortic valve failure in the first stages does not have symptoms. The disease manifests itself quite late, when the heart has already increased from overloading, and its walls have become thinner. At this point, the organ is significantly weakened, and the left ventricle is not working properly, causing stasis in the atrium and lungs. It is then that the first signs of the disease begin to appear:
- weakness;
- uncaused fatigue;
- arrhythmia;
- dyspnea even in a calm position;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness.
There are more obvious symptoms that arise suddenly - heaviness and swelling in the right hypochondrium and heart palpitations, which the patient himself may notice.
Classification of valve failure
The disease has several stages of development, which differ in the clinical picture and symptoms. So:
- Insufficiency of the aortic valve of the 1st degree is characterized by a complete absence of patient complaints about health and the identification of signs during the examination. At this stage, the disease can be identified only by routine examination, since the patient himself does not see any reason to consult a doctor.
- Insufficiency of the aortic valve of the 2nd degree is characterized by latent heart failure . ECG reveals abnormalities in the left ventricle. The patient begins to notice negative changes in the body - with small loads, dyspnoea and fatigue appear.
- If the aortic valve of grade 3 is deficient, the patient feels contracting pain, general weakness, and sudden fainting. At the same time, the left ventricle experiences hypertrophy. In the next stage, the disease progresses rapidly, and dystrophic processes are already observed in many internal organs, since the lack of blood begins to affect their work negatively.
Treatment of aortic valve insufficiency
Regardless of the stage of the disease, treatment begins with medication. The patient takes medications that stabilize the heart and normalize his rhythm. Also, drugs restore blood pressure and cholesterol.
Beginning with the third stage of the disease, surgical intervention is often used, during which aortic valve is replaced. This method of treatment is the most effective. Invasive procedures, such as valvotomy, can be used to restore or repair the aortic valve. During the procedure, a catheter with an inflatable balloon is injected into the heart, this helps improve blood flow. But this method is used extremely rarely.