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Why must you take warfarin for life with mechanical mitral valve?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
You must take anticoagulants (blood-thinners, i.e. warafin & coumadin) because the valve, although it may be accepted by the body, is an mechanical device and your blood at it's regular thickness can attach to the valve and produce blood clots. Those blood clots can dislodge (break free) and cause stroke, aneurysm or death. Therefore it is important to keep the blood thin enough to be productive but not clot. It is also important to keep your doctor and lab appointments to monitor your blood because if your blood is too thin it can cause you not to clot at all (hemophiliac) and you can bleed out from a simple cut. I hope this is helpful.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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What is the difference between a mechanical heart valve versus a biological valve?
mechanical can hold up to life but medication is needed every day for life biological is a more normal life but have to re op. 10- 20 years gl
Which heart valve has the most problems and why?
Probably the "Mitral Valve", it is a common birth trait, or slight defect. A normal life, with a few precautions should be expected. Regurgitation of a heart valve is a more serious issue than prolapse, or a situation where the valve doesn't close fully. Hope this helped you, Good Luck.
Can you get a cramp in the heart?
Definition Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common heart disorder. It occurs when the valve between your heart's left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle) doesn't close properly. When the left ventricle contracts, the valve's leaflets bulge (prolapse) upward or back into the atrium. Mitral valve prolapse sometimes leads to blood leaking backward into the left atrium, a condition called mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral valve prolapse affects slightly more than 2 percent of adults in the United States. Men and women appear to develop MVP in similar numbers. In most people, mitral valve prolapse is harmless and doesn't require treatment or changes in lifestyle. It also doesn't shorten your life expectancy. In some people with mitral valve prolapse, however, the progression of the disease requires treatment. Symptoms Although mitral valve prolapse is a lifelong disorder, many people with this condition never have symptoms. When diagnosed, people may be surprised to learn that they have a heart abnormality. When signs and symptoms do occur with mitral valve prolapse, it's typically because blood is leaking backward through the valve (regurgitation). Symptoms can vary widely from one person to another. They tend to be mild, develop gradually and may include: A racing or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) Dizziness, lightheadedness Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, often when lying flat or during physical exertion Fatigue Chest pain that's not associated with a heart attack or coronary artery disease What that feeling is is called a something-valve prolapse or something. My dad and I get them ocassionally. It is where a valve doesnt close right. Its harmless and the best way to get rid of it is to breath it out or wait it out.
What causes mitral valve insufficiency?
MVP (mitral valve prolapse) is generally considered to be present at birth, although quite often it isn't diagnosed until one's twenties. Usually MVP is not extremely dangerous; very rarely, it has caused sudden death by cardiac arrest. Some people with MVP take medications such as Metoprolol to regulate their heart rate; others use pacemakers. A third option, less often used, is to implant a defibrillator that only activates if a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia occurs. MVP is a mild to moderate problem with a valve that causes a slight heart murmur. It is most common in white females who are slightly underweight, but can happen in anyone.
Had three blood clots is it warfarin for life?
Sorry, but yes.
Mitral valve prolapse?
DefinitionMitral valve prolapse is a heart problem in which the valve that separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart does not close properly.Alternative NamesBarlow syndrome; Floppy mitral valve; Myxomatous mitral valve; Billowing mitral valve; Systolic click-murmur syndrome; Prolapsing mitral leaflet syndromeCauses, incidence, and risk factorsThe mitral valve helps blood on the left side of the heart flow in one direction. It closes to keep blood from moving backwards when the heart beats (contracts).Mitral valve prolapse is the term used when the valve does not close properly. It can be caused by many different things. In most cases, it is harmless and patients usually do not know they have the problem. As much as 10% of the population has some minor, insignificant form of mitral valve prolapse, but it does not generally affect their lifestyle.In a small number of cases, the prolapse can cause blood to leak backwards. This is called mitral regurgitation.Mitral valves that are structurally abnormal can raise the risk for bacterial infection.Some forms of mitral valve prolapse seem to be passed down through families (inherited). Mitral valve prolapse has been associated with Graves disease.Mitral valve prolapse often affects thin women who may have minor chest wall deformities, scoliosis, or other disorders.Mitral valve prolapse is associated with some connective tissue disorders, especially Marfan syndrome. Other conditions include:Ehlers-Danlos syndromeOsteogenesis imperfectaPolycystic kidney diseaseSymptomsMany patients with mitral valve prolapse do not have symptoms. The group of symptoms found in patients with mitral valve prolapse is called "mitral valve prolapse syndrome" and includes:Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)Chest pain (not caused by coronary artery disease or a heart attack)Difficulty breathing after activityFatigueCoughShortness of breath when lying flat (orthopnea)Note: There may be no symptoms, or symptoms may develop slowly.Signs and testsThe doctor will perform a physical exam and use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs. The doctor may feel a thrill (vibration) over the heart, and hear a heart murmur ("midsystolic click"). The murmur gets louder when you stand up.Blood pressure is usually normal.The following tests may be used to diagnose mitral valve prolapse or a leaky mitral valve:EchocardiogramColor-flow Doppler examinationCardiac catheterizationChest x-rayECG (may show arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation)Chest MRICT scan of the chestTreatmentMost of the time, there are no (or few) symptoms, and treatment is not needed.If you have severe mitral valve prolapse, you may need to stay in the hospital. You may need surgery to repair or replace the valve if you have severe mitral regurgitation or your symptoms get worse. Mitral valve replacement may be needed if:You have symptomsThe left ventricle of the heart is enlargedHeart function gets worse (depressed ejection fraction)In the past, some people with mitral valve prolapse were given antibiotics before certain dental or surgical procedures to help prevent an infection called bacterial endocarditis (BE). However, the American Heart Association no longer recommends routine antibiotics before dental procedures or other surgical procedures for patients with only mitral valve prolapse, unless they have had bacterial endocarditis in the past.Other drugs that may be prescribed when mitral regurgitation or other heart problems are also present:Anti-arrhythmic drugs help control irregular heartbeats.Water pills (diuretics) help remove excess fluid in the lungs.Propranolol is given for palpitations or chest pain.Blood thinners (anticoagulants) help prevent blood clots in people who also have atrial fibrillation.Expectations (prognosis)Mitral valve prolapse should not negatively affect your lifestyle. If the leaky valve becomes severe, your outlook may be similar to that of people who have mitral regurgitation from any other cause.Most of the time, the condition is harmless and does not cause symptoms. Symptoms that do occur can be treated and controlled with medicine or surgery. However, some irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) associated with mitral valve prolapse can be life-threatening.ComplicationsEndocarditis -- valve infectionSevere leaky mitral valve (regurgitation)StrokeClots to other areasIrregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), including atrial fibrillationCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have:Chest discomfort, palpitations, or fainting spells that get worseLong-term illnesses with feversPreventionYou can't usually prevent mitral valve prolapse, but you can prevent certain complications. Tell your health care providers, including your dentist, if you have a history of heart disease or heart valve problems.ReferencesAmerican College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. ACC/AHA 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (writing committee to revise the 1998 guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;48:1-148.Nishimura RA, Carabello BA, Faxon DP, Freed MD, Lytle BW, O'Gara PT, et al. ACC/AHA 2008 guideline update on valvular heart disease: focused update on infective endocarditis: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines endorsed by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52:676-685.Karchmer AW. Infective endocarditis. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007:chap 63.Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/04/2010Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
If you have had a aortic valve replace and an aortic aneurysm repaired will these need done again?
I answered this already and dont know where the answer is... short answer is yes... if you live that long... 12 years is average... but if you have a mechanical valve its closer to 20 years, but a lot of people have cow or pig valves, and the flesh wears out earlier mostly cause it doesnt get regenerated like human parts. the trick with mechanical valves is you have to take blood thinners forever to keep the blood from gumming up the valve.
What are all the valves in a heart?
There are four valves of two types (atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves). The four valves are :Tricuspid Valve (between the right atrium and the right ventricle)Pulmonary Valve* (semilunar valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery)Mitral Valve (between the left atrium and the left ventricle)Aortic Valve (semilunar valve between the left ventricle and the aorta)*sometimes called the Pulmonic ValveThis does not include the other two valves: the Thebesian valve, which can be sometimes absent in healthy individuals; and the eustachian valve, which is important during the fetal stages of life but is not necessary in adults.
Heart valve surgery - series?
Normal anatomyThere are four valves in the heart: aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve. The valves are designed to control the direction of blood flow through the heart. The opening and closing of the heart valves produce the heart-beat sounds.IndicationsHeart valve replacement may be recommended for:narrowing of the heart valve (stenosis)leaking of the heart valveValve problems may be caused by infections (rheumatic fever) or birth defects and may cause heart failure (congestive heart failure) and infections (infective endocarditis).The surgery is done while the patient is deep-asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia). An incision is made through the breast bone (sternum).Procedure, part 1Heart valve surgery is open-heart surgery. Tubes are used to re-route the blood away from the heart to a heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood oxygenated and circulating while the heart is being operated on.Procedure, part 2Valves may be repaired or replaced. Replacement heart valves are either natural (biologic) or artificial (mechanical). Natural valves are from human donors (cadavers), modified natural valves are from animal donors (porcine: pigs) which are placed in synthetic rings, and artificial valves are made of metal or plastic. Natural valves rarely require life-long medication to prevent blood clot formation (anticoagulation), whereas artificial valves will require anticoagulation.The advantage of mechanical valves is that they last longer-thus, the tradeoff of lifelong anticoagulation in some cases is worth it to avoid a second valve replacement surgery.Procedure, part 3The ineffective mitral valve is removed and the heart valve replacement is sutured into place.AftercareThe rate of success of heart valve surgery is high and increasing. The operation provides symptom relief and prolongs life. The death rate varies depending on the heart valve and averages 2% to 5%. Approximately 2 out of 3 patients who received an artificial mitral valve are still alive 9 years after the surgery. Life-long anticoagulant therapy is necessary for patients with artificial heart valves. The clicking of the mechanical heart valve may be heard in the chest and is normal.The first 2 or 3 days following the operation are spent in an intensive care unit where heart functions can be monitored constantly. The average hospital stay is 1 - 2 weeks. A few weeks to several months should be allowed for complete recovery, depending on health before surgery.Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/06/2011Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Who created the valve game engine?
Valve created the Half-life and Half-life 2 game engine. Valve is a corporation not a game engine.
Does Diazepam affect warfarin?
Administration of nitrazepam (10 mg nightly), diazepam (15 mg/day), and chlordiazepoxide (15 and 30 mg/day) had no effect on steady-state plasma warfarin concentrations, the plasma half-life of warfarin, or anticoagulant control in patients and it appears safe to prescribe these agents to patients on long-term oral anticoagulants.
What would happen if there were no mechanical energy?
If there were no mechanical energy, there would be no movement and so no life exists.
