Diagnosis of valvular heart disease

After hearing you describe the symptoms, having studied the medical records, the doctor will measure heart rate, blood pressure and with a stethoscope listen to your heart.

If the doctor will suspect that you have on heart disease, he may ask you to undergo a series of special diagnostic tests that will help make an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

One of these methods is a noninvasive method, ie which does not require any internal interference.

Another type of research – invasive: using the tools introduced into the body that usually causes the patient to only a minor inconvenience.

CXR
This study allows the physician to obtain valuable information about the size of the heart, heart chambers and the condition of the lungs.

An electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electrocardiogram monitors the electrical current passing through the heart, and stimulates the cell to contract. ECG is particularly useful in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias and the frequency.

These studies also show an increase in muscle or damage, congestion and the presence of one or another side of the heart.

Echocardiogram (echocardiographic)
This study is carried out by “small” microphone placed on the surface of the chest that emits high frequency sound waves.

Sound waves are reflected back (hence the term “echo”) of each layer of the heart wall and valves, and then portrayed on screen. The image “echo” from different points, allows you to see a cut of the heart at the time of his work.

At the time, “Echo” is also recorded blood flow velocity, is controlled by the direction of blood flow: Is there blood in the normal direction of translational motion, or the opposite is true (as in The case of the insufficiency of the valve).

Narrowed valves causes increased blood flow. The degree of stenosis valve in many cases accurately determined by increased blood flow velocity.

This study will see not only the work of the heart valves, it will also provide a useful and comprehensive information about the size of heart chambers and thickness and the work of the heart muscle.

Cardiac catheterization and angiogram
These studies are as follows: a thin hollow tube (catheter) is passed through a vein or artery in the arm or groin and advances in cardiac cells, using X-ray.

During catheterization the pressure measured in the chambers of the heart and the volumes of blood in the bloodstream.

Angiography consists of injections of radiopaque material which can be seen with X-rays and allows us to estimate the heart of whipping up the blood, the valve and the patency of the arteries (coronary) that supply blood to the heart muscle.

Despite the fact that such research is routinely conducted in the past, not necessarily that they are necessary in your case, if the information obtained by echocardiography is complete and accurate.

In many cases the only invasive test needed before surgery is a coronary angiogram, if it is established that cross one or more arteries compromised.

If there is a blockage of the coronary arteries, the doctor usually has a bypass surgery in conjunction with surgery for heart valves.

Diagnostic tactics

If you suspect a heart defect physician must:

Ask the patient about the health in peace and tolerance of physical activities (diagnostics CH).

Specify “rheumatic history”, although 50% of patients with mitral stenosis, for example, is missing.

1. Perform the traditional physical methods: inspection, palpation and percussion, etc. Be sure to define the boundaries of the heart (hypertrophy recognition) and to hear heart tones and noise (diagnosis blemish), try to detect wheezing in the lungs, to determine the size of the liver (diagnostic CH), etc.

2. Record the ECG, and in the presence of related complaints – and daily ECG (the definition of sinus rhythm, arrhythmia, blockades and ischemia). With caution (in the presence of resuscitation) should be performed with exercise stress test, because it is unsafe. The test is indicated for suspicious symptoms of aortic regurgitation to assess the response.

3. Make a radiograph (fluorogram) hearts in 4 projections contrast with the esophagus (diagnosis of stagnation in the lungs, including the strip Curley), evidence of hypertrophy of the various departments, clarification of the blemish).

4. To conduct and evaluate ultrasound of the heart (defect diagnosis, the area of the valve opening, the degree of regurgitation, size, condition of valves and chords, ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure). 5.To same for laboratory studies: physical analysis of blood, the so-called “rheumatic sample, the elderly – sugar, cholesterol, etc.

Such a survey should be conducted annually and in dispensary patients with already diagnosed, and in case of worsening or occurrence of pregnancy – once again (pregnant naturally without fluorography).