Thoracic Key

The same diseases that affect the mitral and tricuspid valves may also affect the aortic valve. According to the pathophysiological triad ( Table 21-1 ), a clear distinction should be…

The pathophysiological triad introduced for the mitral valve ( Chapter 6 ) is also relevant to the other valves, including the tricuspid valve. It provides an accurate description of the…

Patients undergoing mitral valve reconstruction often require additional procedures to address the following associated disorders: left atrial thrombus formation, atrial calcification, giant left atrium, and atrial fibrillation. LEFT ATRIAL THROMBUS…

The term “Systolic Anterior Motion” (SAM) defines a systolic displacement of the distal portion of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve towards the outflow tract of the left ventricle…

The most important functional characteristic of type IIIb dysfunction, compared to type IIIa, is a pure systolic restricted leaflet motion with preserved leaflet pliability. The most common causes of this…

The great majority of valvular diseases with diastolic-restricted leaflet motion have a rheumatic origin. The limitation of the motion of the leaflets is due to commissural fusion, leaflet thickening, chordae…

Normal mitral valve function implies that the free edge of the leaflets remains at the same level and 5 to 10 mm below the plane of the orifice during systole…

In the early years of valve surgery, annular dilatation was considered the primary cause of mitral valve regurgitation. With the exception of McGoon’s techniques of posterior leaflet plication, the usual…

Type II posterior leaflet dysfunction is the most frequent dysfunction in mitral valve regurgitation caused by degenerative valvular disease. It can also be encountered in other etiologies such as bacterial…

A commissural leaflet prolapse is a valve dysfunction typically seen in bacterial endocarditis or in degenerative valvular diseases. The cause of the prolapse is either chordae rupture in bacterial endocarditis…