Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Bicuspid Aortic Valve

It is a rare congenital condition which involve the valve of your heart. In between left ventricle and aorta there is tricuspid valve normally but in bicuspid aortic valve there is only two cusps instead of three.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bicuspid aortic valve include:

• Low blood pressure
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Arrhythmias
• Palpitations
• Weak pulsation
• Difficulty in breathing
• Numbness

Causes

The exact cause of this disorder is not known yet but genetic and environmental factor their rule during the development of heart in utero. Sometime it occurs due to the toxic effect of the certain drugs or by some bacterial infection which causes endocarditis.

Complications

Complications are rare and usually developed after the many years if left untreated:

• Enlargement of left ventricle
• Aortic stenosis
• Ischemia of any organ due to reduce blood supply to the body
• Aortic valve regurgitation

Diagnosis

Your doctor takes your medical and family history to evaluate the congenital and hereditary causes might recommend the following test to confirm the diagnosis:

• Imaging test to check the condition of your heart.
• Echogram of your heart to check the functions of your heart.
• ECG to check the electrical activity of heart.

Treatment

Patient with mild sign and symptoms may require only regular monitoring of their heart function. Severe condition due to this disease may require treatment which include surgical option like aortic valve replacement, balloon valvuloplasty and aortic valve repairment etc.