Acquired aortic valve disease refers to abnormalities of the aortic valve that develop with age.

Replacement valves recovered from the hearts of humans who have died (cadavers).

The discomfort experienced by individuals when their heart muscle does not receive sufficient blood supply. Every patient's angina is somewhat different. In some cases it causes heaviness in t [..]

See balloon angioplasty

Antibiotics taken before a surgical or dental procedure to prevent infection of an abnormal or artificial heart valve called prophylactic antibiotics. Specific recommendations for antibiotic prophylax [..]

Medications that interfere with, or inhibit, blood from clotting are sometimes recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation or an artificial valve. An example of a weak or mild anticoagulant is a [..]

The aorta, the main blood vessel leading from the heart to the rest of the body, has a wall made of three layers.  In rare circumstances, the layers of the aorta can separate, much as layers of plywoo [..]

Four valves are in the heart with two on the left side and two on the right side. On each side there is an inflow valve to the ventricle - the main pumping chamber - and an outflow valve. The aortic v [..]

The first portion of the aorta as it exits from the heart is the ascending aorta. Occasionally the aorta will enlarge or dilate. Such areas of dilatation are called aneurysms. When the ascending aorta [..]

Atrial contraction refers to the part of the heart cycle when the atrium (or upper, low-pressure chamber) squeezes or contracts forcing blood into the ventricle (the main pumping chamber).