Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, you may only need to be monitored by a health care provider. Patients with pulmonic stenosis may be told not to play competitive sports, even if they don't have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, strenuous activity must be limited. | If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, you may only need to be monitored by a health care provider. Patients with pulmonic stenosis may be told not to play competitive sports, even if they don't have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, strenuous activity must be limited. | ||
In adults, treatments include: | In adults, treatments include: | ||
*'''Medication:''' Medications are used to treat symptoms of heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms (most commonly [[atrial fibrillation]]). | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 14:51, 4 February 2020
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Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction Microchapters |
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Classification |
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Differentiating Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (patient information) On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief:
Overview
The pulmonary artery is the main artery leaving the heart. When blood leaves the heart, it flows from the lower chamber (the left ventricle), through the pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary artery. In pulmonic stenosis, the pulmonic valve does not open fully. This restricts blood flow from the heart to lungs.
What are the symptoms of pulmonic stenosis?
You may have no symptoms at all until late in the course of the disease. The diagnosis may have been made when your healthcare provider heard a heart murmur and then performed additional tests.
Symptoms in adults:
- Breathlessness with activity.
- Chest pain, which resembles what is known as angina-type pain.
- The pain is crushing, squeezing, pressure or tightness in nature.
- The pain increases with exercise, relieved with rest.
- The patient feels pain under the chest bone, it may move to other areas.
- Fainting, weakness, or dizziness with activity.
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations).
What causes aortic stenosis?
In the United States, pulmonic stenosis often results from calcium deposits on the pulmonic valve. These deposits occur naturally with age and have no relationship with the amount of calcium in the diet. Worldwide, aortic stenosis occurs most commonly in those who've had rheumatic fever, a condition that may develop after strep throat or scarlet fever. Valve problems do not develop for 5 - 10 years or longer after rheumatic fever occurs. Rheumatic fever is increasingly rare in the United States. pulmonic stenosis may be present from birth (congenital), or it may develop later in life (acquired). Children with pulmonic stenosis may have other congenital conditions. Radiation treatment to the chest, and some medications may cause pulmonic stenosis. pulmonic stenosis is not common. It occurs more often in men than in women. As the pulmonic valve becomes more narrow, the pressure increases inside the lower chamber of the heart (the right ventricle). This causes the right ventricle to become thicker, decreasing blood flow and can lead to chest pain.
Who is at highest risk?
pulmonic stenosis occurs more often in men than in women. The calcifications that cause most cases of pulmonic stenosis are more likely to occur in patients above the age of 50, who are overweight, who smoke, and who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These are the same risk factors for atherosclerosis of the coronary blood vessels.
Diagnosis
- Heart murmur: When listening to your heart, your health care provider may hear a new heart murmur associated with pulmonic stenosis. This murmur is not always there in pulmonic stenosis. If a new murmur is heard and your health care provider is concerned about pulmonic stenosis or another form of heart disease, further tests may be ordered. It is important to remember that not all heart murmurs mean you have a harmful heart condition.
- Blood pressure: You may have high blood pressure if you have mild pulmonic stenosis. In rare cases of severe pulmonic stenosis, your blood pressure may actually be low.
- Tests:
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram: Sensors on the chest measure electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiography: It is an ultrasound of the heart.
- Exercise stress testing: Your doctor monitors your electrocardiogram while you exercise.
- MRI of the heart: You lay in a magnet that takes pictures of your heart.
- Cardiac catheterization: A catheter is inserted into the arteries of your heart and pictures are taken.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you or your child have symptoms of pulmonic stenosis. For example, call if you or your child have increasing shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting. Also contact your doctor if you have been diagnosed with this condition and your symptoms get worse or new symptoms develop.
Treatment options
If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, you may only need to be monitored by a health care provider. Patients with pulmonic stenosis may be told not to play competitive sports, even if they don't have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, strenuous activity must be limited.
In adults, treatments include:
- Medication: Medications are used to treat symptoms of heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms (most commonly atrial fibrillation).