Cardiophile MD Archive

Evaluation of prosthetic valve function is an important aspect of follow up of patients after valve replacement. Clinical parameters would include the careful documentation of symptoms and physical findings. Patients are instructed to listen to the valve sounds while in a silent room in case of mechanical prosthesis and to report if the sounds suddenly [...]

Infective endarteritis in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) Infective endarteritis is less likely in a very small PDA as well as a large PDA. It is more likely in moderate sized PDAs and small PDAs. Hence there is no role for closing very small PDA without continuous murmur. In PDA infective endarteritis, the vegetations occur either [...]

What is the most common reason for a patient who has undergone closed mitral valvotomy needing a mitral valve replacement later? Mitral restenosis with calcification is the common reason for requiring mitral valve replacement later. Other possibilities are inadequate valvotomy and development of progressive mitral regurgitation, which could have developed during the procedure or later [...]

Though square root sign can be seen in constrictive pericarditis, right ventricular myocardial infarction and restrictive cardiomyopathy, a prominent y descent is not seen in the latter two conditions. This is thought to be due to the abnormal relaxation of the right ventricular myocardium in right ventricular myocardial infarction and restictive cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure on day 1 of life is mostly due to metabolic causes like hypocalcemia and hypoglycemia. Seizures along with heart failure may indicate metabolic causes. Other causes of heart failure on day 1 are critically obstructed series circulation as in critical aortic stenosis or pulmonary stenosis or obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) [...]