Valvular Disease

What is a defective heart valve?
A defective heart valve is one that fails either to close properly or to open fully.

• A stenotic heart valve can't open completely (stenosis), so blood is pumped through a smaller-than-normal opening.
• A valve may also be unable to close completely, leading to regurgitation (back flow) of blood back through the valve when it should be closed.

How are defective heart valves treated?
A cardiologist should follow people with heart valve defects. Many people with defective heart valves will need to take antibiotics to prevent endocarditis (an infection in the heart) before certain dental or surgical procedures likely to cause bleeding. Only a physician familiar with the patient's condition can determine whether a specific person needs antibiotics. When the blockage or valve leakage is severe, surgery may be indicated to repair or replace the defective valve.