FAQ's

FAQ's About the Pulmonary Valve

Q1: What is the function of the pulmonary valve?

The pulmonary valve is a one way valve in the heart which is responsible for keeping blood from the heart flowing properly to the lungs. The pulmonary valve opens into the pulmonary artery at a rate depending on the current heart rate. The structure of the valve prevents backflow of deoxygenated blood. The valve is formed by three nodes each with a cusp at the midpoint.

Q2: What are the common health complications of the pulmonary valve?

Pulmonary stenosis: Pulmonary valve stenosis is a disease in which there is a deformity on or near the pulmonary valve. The most common cause for pulmonary valve stenosis is congenital heart disease. In serious cases, this disease may require open heart surgery to replace the pulmonary valve with an artificial valve. Pulmonary stenosis can also be more commonly a dynamic or fixed obstruction of the valve that resists blood flow.

Pulmonary regurgitation: Regurgitation is a disease in which the valve allows blood to flow backwards through the valve. In healthy patients, a little bit of regurgitation is normal, however, excess regurgitation can eventually lead to heart failure. This heart defect is most likely caused by another problem and this problem would be treated in order t o end the regurgitation.

Congenital heart disease: Congenital heart disease involves any problems with the structure of the heart, such as defects with the walls of the heart, valves, or the arteries and veins near the heart. These defects are present from birth and are the most common type of birth defect. Congenital heart disease prevents normal blood flow through the heart. Blood flow may be slower, flowing in the wrong direction, flow to the wrong place, or can even become blocked. Sometimes congenital heart disease can be treated with medication, whereas other cases would require open heart surgery.

Q3: How is the artificial valve inserted?

An artificial heart valve is most commonly inserted during open heart surgery. While the patient is under general anesthesia, the surgeon enters the heart by opening the breastbone in the chest. The heart is put on a heart-lung bypass machine. The heart is essentially stopped during the time while the machine does the normal work of the heart. The defective valve is removed and the new artificial valve is carefully inserted. The heart is then taken off of bypass. Other minimally invasive procedures can also be done for valve insertion. These procedures include laparoscopy or endoscopy, percutaneous surgery (through the skin) and robot-assisted surgery.

Q4: What can be done to repair a heart valve?

During open heart surgery while the patient is on bypass, a surgeon can also make repairs to a heart valve. In a ring annuloplasty, the ring like structure around the valve can be repaired by sewing a ring of plastic, cloth or tissue around the existing valve. A surgeon can also reshape, trim or rebuild an existing valve. Valve repair is best for the mitral and tricuspid valve but not the aortic valve.

G5: What are some of the heart valve problems treated with surgery?

Problems treated include: aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis, congenital heart valve disease, mitral regurgitation (acute/chronic), mitral stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary valve stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, tricuspid valve stenosis.

Q6: What are the complications with prosthetic valves?

As with all surgeries, there are potential complications such as bleeding, blood clots or infection. The risks of cardiac surgery are even greater. Unsuccessful surgery could lead to a heart attack or post-pericardiotomy syndrome. However, the success rate of heart valve surgery is very high. The mechanical valves do not often fail and can last a patient up to 20 years.

Questions about our Project

Q1: Why did we choose the pulmonary valve?

The pulmonary valve is the least important heart valve. It is often removed and used to replace other ineffective heart valves in a patient. A simple effective artificial pulmonary valve could be used to replace a pulmonary valve that could be put in place of another valve. Because the valve is from the patient himself, it is more likely to function successfully in the heart in place of another valve.

Q2: How will the valve model be designed?

The artificial pulmonary valve will be designed using CREO computer program.

Q3: How will the valve model be made?

The design made on CREO will be printed using a 3D printer in ABS plastic.

Q4: How will the valve model be simulated?

The modeled design will be simulated using a CREO simulation. We will also do a physical simulation with the 3D printed valve.

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