Heart valve damage, which is also called valvulopathy, is the most common damage caused by the combination of phentermine and fenfluramine. In most cases, this occurs when the heart-valves do not close properly, which causes a leakage of blood at the valve (also known as regurgitation). While this is not usually a serious problem, if the valves are badly damaged by the Phen Fen, pulmonary hypertension may result. This type of hypertension is known as SPH or Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Heart valve damage ("valvulopathy") is the most common injury from the use of fen-phen. Valvulopathy occurs when the heart-valves (typically the aortic and mitral valves) do not open and close properly, causing regurgitation of blood. If the valves are seriously impaired, secondary pulmonary hypertension may result.

The causes of heart valve damage vary depending on the type of disease present, and may include the following: a history of rheumatic fever (now a rare disease in north America due to effective antibiotic treatment) - a condition characterized by painful fever, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. syphilis (now a rare sexually transmitted disease in North American due to effective treatment) - a disease characterized by progressive symptoms if not treated.

No specific duration of use automatically causes damage to any Pondimin users. In fact, many Pondimin users have no damage at all. Some studies have concluded that people who used Pondimin for more than 3 months may have a higher risk of developing or having heart valve disease. This does not mean that if you took Pondimin for more than 3 months you will be injured - only that you may have been injured.

Depending on the type of damage, your doctor may prescribe different types of treatment. For valve injuries, some are treatable. For example, a slight valve impairment might result simply in getting yearly echocardiograms to ensure that the problem is not worsening.

When a patient needs a heart valve replacement, two types are available, mechanical and tissue. Tissue valves are made of either cow (bovine) tissue or pig (porcine) tissue. Mechanical valves are made from materials such as ceramic-coated graphite, metal, or plastics.

Angina usually doesn't damage the heart like a heart attack, in which part of the heart muscle may die from lack of oxygen-rich blood. Instead, angina can take its toll by causing ongoing physical and emotional pain or discomfort. Besides enduring painful and frightening attacks, angina patients often feel depressed and anxious about future attacks. Although angina isn't normally considered "chronic pain," some experts believe it should be categorized this way.

On a size for size basis, Mitroflow valve gradients are similar to those obtained for the standard St. Jude and CarboMedics mechanical valves. However, the Mitroflow valve should be compared to the CarboMedics Top Hat Aortic Valve because, like Top Hat, the Mitroflow valve allows up to a two-size increase over the size of a standard valve.

The primary advantages of the Mitroflow valve are performance and durability. The Mitroflow valve provides the hemodynamic performance of a stentless valve while reducing the need for long cross-clamp time and complex implantation technique. The unique mounting of the pericardium on the outside of the stent allows for maximum valve opening and optimum blood flow. The sewing cuff allows placement in smaller aortic annuli, resulting in better hemodynamics.

The thickness of the pericardial tissue and the configuration of the stent for the Mitroflow Valve are designed to accommodate normal contact and distortion during installation. However, avoid touching the valve and its leaflets with metal instruments or any object that may abrade or damage the valve. NOTE: DO NOT use cutting edge suture needles, as these may damage the valve sewing ring.

Valve injuries are treatable through a range of methods depending on the severity of injury. For a slight valve impairment, your doctor may advise you to get yearly echocardiograms. As a preventative measure, your doctor may also advise you to take prophylactic antibiotics before any invasive medical procedures, including dental examinations. For more severe cases, valve repair or valve replacement surgery may be necessary. In all cases, you should consult a doctor.

The valve(s) does not close completely, causing the blood to flow backward instead of forward through the valve. The valve(s) opening becomes narrowed or does not form properly, inhibiting the flow of blood out of the ventricle or atria. The heart is forced to pump blood with increased force in order to move blood through the stiff (stenotic) valve(s). Heart valves can have both malfunctions at the same time (regurgitation and stenosis).

Mild heart valve disease may not cause any symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of heart valve disease. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of heart valve disease present and may include: Symptoms of heart valve disease may resemble other medical conditions and problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Heart valve disease may be suspected if the heart sounds heard through a stethoscope are abnormal. This is usually the first step in diagnosing a heart valve disease. A characteristic heart murmur (abnormal sounds in the heart due to turbulent blood flow) can often indicate valve regurgitation.

The Mitroflow heart valve is available for the aortic position in sizes: 19mm, 21mm, 23mm, 25mm, 27mm and 29mm Paravalvular leaks may occur at any stage after valve implantation but are most common in the first six postoperative months, with the exception of leaks due to endocarditis, which may occur at any time. Modern echocardiographic systems often reveal leaks in the immediate postoperative period but the vast majority of these disappear within days.

The Mitroflow valve is intended for the replacement of malfunctioning aortic valves.

CarboMedics mechanical heart valves are never explanted because they wear out. The expected wear life of the mechanical valve is between 100 and 400 years. Bioprosthetic valves can wear out. If this occurs, the valve must be replaced.

See also the topics Heart Failure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Stenosis, and Aortic Valve Regurgitation.

this is a newly recognized concern, we don't know yet what happens over time to people with this kind of heart valve problem. Based on data known at present, many of those patients affected don't have any symptoms of heart disease at present and don't require any treatment other than careful follow-up by their doctor and pre-treatment with antibiotics before certain medical or dental procedures, as previously described in these "Q&As".

Heart valve disease may be suspected if the heart sounds heard through a stethoscope are abnormal. This is usually the first step in diagnosing a heart valve disease. A characteristic heart murmur (abnormal sounds in the heart due to turbulent blood flow) can often indicate valve regurgitation. To further define the type of valve disease and extent of the valve damage, physicians may use several different types of diagnostic procedures.

No. Mitral valve prolapse is not dangerous. It usually does not damage your heart. You can live a normal life without changing your activities or how you eat. But a few people with this condition develop another problem. If the valve does not close tightly enough, blood can leak (regurgitate) into the upper chamber. This is called mitral valve regurgitation. The heart then has to work harder to pump this extra blood. Over time, this can damage the heart.

For most cases, a blood thinner, also known as Coumadin, is typically prescribed for a limited period of time after an annuloplasty repair ring has been implanted. The time frame is generally based on how long it takes the patient's native tissue to seal the ring and no longer present a risk of thrombus/clotting formation.

There are four pivot washing jets; one for each of the four pivots. The jets are most easily seen in the mitral valve. Using transesophageal echocardiography allows one to see how the appearance of the jets varies when viewed from different angles (A). When the pivots are on either side of the display screen, the jets converge over the center of the valve. When the valve is viewed across the pivots with the pivots in the center of the screen, two jets can be seen diverging (B).

The valve housing and leaflets are made of Pyrolite carbon, a unique form of carbon which Carbomedics engineers discovered in the sixties. Attached to the carbon housing is a reinforcing band of titanium and attached to the titanium band is a suture ring of PET fabric. A metallic nitinol wire holds the titanium ring to the housing with an interference groove system.

this time, no-one knows exactly what the relationship is between these drugs and heart valvular disease. Much further research is necessary before this question can be answered. The data initially reported to FDA by five investigators were noted to be preliminary, but were striking in the consistently high rates of valve disease in patients without symptoms of heart disease examined at the five centers.