- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Chapter 158 Causes and diagnosis of valvular problems
- Chapter 159 Therapeutic strategy in valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 737) Causes and diagnosis of valvular problems
- Chapter:
- (p. 737) Causes and diagnosis of valvular problems
- Author(s):
Jason F. Deen
and Karen K. Stout
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0158
While valvular heart disease encountered in developing countries is primarily rheumatic in aetiology, in industrialized countries it is largely comprised of degenerative valvular disease. Although less prevalent than ischaemic heart disease, its prevalence increases with older age and increased life expectancy, and therefore represents significant disease burden in aging populations. Transthoracic echocardiography remains the imaging modality of choice for timely delineation of the anatomy and severity of the lesion,although, once identified, may not correlate with symptoms due to clinical latency of disease onset to disease manifestation. Variations of disease severity, which may not meet criteria for intervention, lead to chronicity of disease, while clinically silent lesions may remain undiagnosed—both of these situations may lead to acute illness requiring intensive care management. Stabilization through medical intervention may be required, although many patients with severe disease will need emergent surgical repair, therefore collaborative involvement between intensivists, cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons is needed to minimize patient mortality and morbidity.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Part 5.1 Physiology
- Part 5.2 Cardiovascular monitoring
- Part 5.3 Acute chest pain and coronary syndromes
- Part 5.4 Aortic dissection
- Part 5.5 The hypotensive patient
- Part 5.6 Cardiac failure
- Part 5.7 Tachyarrhythmias
- Part 5.8 Bradyarrhythmias
- Part 5.9 Valvular problems
- Chapter 158 Causes and diagnosis of valvular problems
- Chapter 159 Therapeutic strategy in valvular problems
- Part 5.10 Endocarditis
- Part 5.11 Severe hypertension
- Part 5.12 Severe capillary leak
- Part 5.13 Pericardial tamponade
- Part 5.14 Pulmonary hypertension
- Part 5.15 Pulmonary embolus
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care