Valvular Heart Disease
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Scott P. Hopkins; Zorana Mrsic; Jared L. Antevil; Philip S. Mullenix
- Source
- Primary care. 45(1)
- Subject
- medicine.medical_specialty
Population
Aortic Valve Insufficiency
Heart Valve Diseases
Physical examination
Disease
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Internal medicine
Mitral valve
Medicine
Humans
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Pharmacology (medical)
cardiovascular diseases
030212 general & internal medicine
education
education.field_of_study
Mitral regurgitation
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Public health
valvular heart disease
Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Aortic Valve Stenosis
equipment and supplies
medicine.disease
Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency
3. Good health
medicine.anatomical_structure
Infective endocarditis
cardiovascular system
Cardiology
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 1558-299X
This article outlines the diagnosis and management of commonly occurring valvular heart diseases for the primary care provider. Basic understanding of pathologic murmurs is important for appropriate referral. Echocardiography is the gold standard for diagnosis and severity grading. Patients with progressive valvular heart disease should be followed annually by cardiology and imaging should be performed based on the severity of valvular dysfunction. Surgery or intervention is recommended only when symptoms dictate or when changes in left ventricular function occur. Surgery or intervention should be performed after discussion by a heart team, including cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.