Our heart depends on a set of valves to keep blood flowing in the forward direction. Sometimes these valves malfunction, leading to regurgitation. Watch the first video below to learn more about this topic, and watch the second video for an example problem related to regurgitation.
Self-Assessment Questions:
Click here to test your understanding of Regurgitation.
Discussion Questions:
- Imagine a heart with no valves. What are the implications for blood flow in this case?
- In some cases, the native heart of a patient is so sick that a total heart replacement is necessary. However, demand for hearts exceeds the supply. Researchers have created a continuous flow heart as a solution to this problem. Read Frazier and Cohn’s study which details this device. What are some risks associated with it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of continuous and pulsatile flow?
- In the video, four heart compartments are mentioned. Why is the heart divided into left and right sides? Why are each of these sides divided into an atrium and ventricle?
- Consider a patient with mitral regurgitation. What are some downstream problems that could be caused by this condition? Refer to Douedi’s literature on the pathophysiology of mitral regurgitation to support your answer.
- Read the Nature article below on heart valve engineering. List 5 design parameters that need to be considered when engineering an implantable heart valve. Why are each of these important to ensure proper function of the device, as well as patient safety?
Continue Reading:
- Frazier OH, Cohn WE. Continuous-flow total heart replacement device implanted in a 55-year-old man with end-stage heart failure and severe amyloidosis. Tex Heart Inst J. 2012;39(4):542-546. Click here to read.
- This study investigates the development, pre-clinical trials, and adaptation of a continuous-flow total heart replacement device, HeartMate II. It also discusses the device’s impact on patient survival.
- Douedi S, Douedi H. Mitral Regurgitation. [Updated 2021 Mar 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553135/
- This article reviews that pathophysiology, management, and treatment of mitral regurgitation.
- Nature Publishing Group. (2017, June 7). Nature News. https://bioengineeringcommunity.nature.com/posts/17647-engineering-heart-valves.
- This article explores the history and different designs of heart valves throughout time.
About the Creator:
This video was created by a student in the Rice Bioengineering Class of 2023 (used with permission).
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