Smletzer Textbook of Medical Surgical NursingChapter 28
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Valvular Disorders
Regurgitation: The valve does not close properly, and blood
backflows through the valve.
Stenosis: The valve does not open completely, and blood flow
through the valve is reduced.
Valve prolapse: The stretching of an atrioventricular valve leaflet
into the atrium during diastole
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Valves of the Heart
Specific Valvular Disorders
Mitral valve prolapse: A portion of one or both mitral valve
leaflets balloons back into the atrium during systole.
Hereditary.
Mitral regurgitation (Insufficiency): Involves blood flowing back
from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole.
Mitral stenosis: An obstruction to blood flowing from the left
atrium into the left ventricle.
Aortic regurgitation (Insufficiency): Flow of blood back into the
left ventricle from the aorta during diastole.
Aortic stenosis: Narrowing of the orifice between the left
ventricle and aorta.
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Valvular Disease Chart
Heart Valves
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Mitral & Aortic valve disorders are most common valve problems.
Tricuspid & Pulmonic are rare. Pulmonic stenosis is
congenital.
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) occurs when valve leaflets are enlarged
and prolapse into L atrium during systole. Most often a benign
condition, and usually asymptomatic, but can cause CP,
palpitations, exercise intolerance, or fainting. A mid-systolic
“click” heard at the apex is characteristic of MVP
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Mitral Regurgitation (Insufficiency): Rheumatic heart disease is
the main cause. Other causes are papillary muscle rupture from
ischemic heart disease, congenital defects, and infective
endocarditis
Fibrosis and calcification prevent valve from closing completely.
Blood backflows, then L ventricle must work harder to eject extra
blood. This cause hypertrophy of ventricle.
More women than men are affected.
S/S may take decades to emerge. Fatigue and weakness (first),
dyspnea on exertion, and orthopnea are later developments.
Mitral Regurgitation (Insufficiency)
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Mitral Regurgitation (cont): Other S/S include c/o palpitations,
atypical CP, anxiety. Extremities may be cool and clammy and
peripheral pulses are thready. A-Fib may occur.
Mitral Regurgitation (Cont)
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Mitral Stenosis: Commonly caused by Rheumatic Fever. Other causes
are lupus, RA.
Valve leaflet becomes stiffened after calcification. L atrium must
work harder to pump blood thru the narrowed valve. Pulmonary
pressure increases which may cause the right ventricle to
hypertrophy.
First symptom may be dyspnea on exertion. Paroxysmal dyspnea
(sudden dyspnea at night), A-Fib, and dry cough may occur, A
diastolic rumbling murmur may be heard.
If untreated, R-sided HF may occur.
Mitral Stenosis
Aortic Regurgitation (Insufficiency): Infective Endocarditis,
congenital defects, longterm HTN, and Marfan syndrome (a rare
genetic connective tissue disease) are factors in aortic
regurgitation.
Valve leaflets do not close properly during diastole allowing
backflow of blood from the aorta into the L ventricle. The L
ventricle dilates and hypertrophies from the greater blood
volume.
Aortic Regurgitation (Insufficiency)
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S/S do not appear until L ventricular failure happens. Dyspnea on
exertion, orthopnea, and paroxysmal dyspnea begin. Nocturnal angina
w/diaphoresis and palpitation, particularly when lying on the left
side, occur late in the disease. Pulse is bounding and pulse
pressure is widened w/increased systolic pressure and decreased
diastolic pressure. On auscultation, there is a high-pitched,
blowing diastolic murmur.
Aortic Regurgitation (Cont)
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Aortic Stenosis: Most common valve disorder in the US.
Atherosclerosis w/degenerative calcification of the valve is common
factor in older adults. In younger pt’s, congenital valve
malformations and rheumatic fever are primary causes.
Aortic valve opening narrows and obstructs L ventricular outflow
during systole. Increased pressure required to eject blood causes L
ventricular hypertrophy. Cardiac output is decreased to the point
that the body’s demands cannot be met during exertion. Systolic HF
begins and pulmonary congestion produces symptoms. When the valve
opening becomes <1cm, surgery is urgent.
Aortic Stenosis
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Classic S/S of aortic stenosis are dyspnea, fatigue, and syncope on
exertion. Later, extreme fatigue, weakness, and peripheral cyanosis
become apparent.
Aortic Stenosis (Cont)
Nursing Management: Valvular Heart Disorders
Patient education
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Nursing Management: Valvular Heart Disorders (cont’d)
Plan activity with rest periods
Sleep with HOB elevated
Question
The nurse is providing education for a client diagnosed with mitral
valve prolapse (MVP). What should be included in the teaching plan?
(Select all that apply.)
MVP is not hereditary.
Avoid alcohol.
Prophylactic antibiotics are not prescribed before dental
procedures.
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Answer
Prophylactic antibiotics are not prescribed before dental
procedures.
Rationale: MVP is hereditary, and caffeine should be avoided.
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Depends on valve affected and degree of impairment
Yearly monitoring and drug therapy for symptoms is standard when
disease is not severe. Later, heart surgery may be needed.
Rest is an important part of therapy.
Before invasive procedures, prophylactic ATB are necessary for all
pt’s w/valve disease
Surgical TX is required when valve disease becomes severe.
Treatment of Valve Disorders
Surgical Management:
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Balloon valvuloplasty is sometimes used to open stenosed valves.
It’s performed w/ a balloon tip catheter, which is threaded via the
femoral artery into the heart and into the diseased valve. The
balloon is inflated to enlarge the opening, then deflated and
removed. Often, stenosis recurs in 6 months.
Direct commissurotomy occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass w/open
heart surgery. Thrombi are removed from the atria and leaflets are
incised along with calcification debridement; this opens the valve
orifice.
Surgical TX
Mitral Valve Annuloplasty is performed for acquired mitral
regurgitation. Involves making the valve ring (annulus) smaller
w/sutures. Leaflets are repaired to provide good closure of the
valve at systole.
Valve replacement: Using mechanical (prosthetic) or biologic
(tissue from cadavers) valves. If mechanical, pt. needs
anticoagulant therapy for their lifetime due to clot formation.
Mechanical valves are more durable. The aortic valve is always
replaced w/ a mechanical valve due to high pressure in aorta.
Biologic valves require no anticoagulants, but may wear out in 15
years, requiring additional surgery.
Surgical TX (Cont)
Balloon Valvuloplasty
Annuloplasty Ring Insertion
Valve Replacement
Mechanical & Biologic Tissue Valves
Nursing Management: Valvuloplasty and Valve Replacement
Balloon valvuloplasty
Surgical valvuloplasty or valve replacements
Focus is hemodynamic stability and recovery from anesthesia
Frequent assessments with attention to neurologic, respiratory, and
cardiovascular systems
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Nursing Management—Valvuloplasty and Valve Replacement
(cont’d)
Patient education
Anticoagulation therapy
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a series of progressive events that culminates in
impaired cardiac output and can lead to heart failure, sudden
death, or dysrhythmias.
Types
Cardiomyopathies That Lead to
Dilated: Extensive enlargement of ventricles w/impairment of
contractions. Caused by chemotherapy, alcohol abuse, infection,
inflammation, poor nutrition, and connective tissue disorders.
Advances to HF.
Hypertrophic: Increased growth of L ventricle muscle. May be
hereditary, caused by HTN, or hypoparathyroidism. Sudden death may
occur
Restrictive: Stiffened ventricles prevent adequate relaxation after
systole, affecting filling. Caused by systemic diseases such as
amyloidosis or sarcoidosis. Progresses to R-sided HF.
Cardiomyopathy
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A group of diseases that affect the structure or function of the
heart
S/S include dyspnea, activity intolerance, angina, dizziness, HTN,
palpitations
Diagnosis is made by cardiac cath, echocardiography, ECG, or CT/MRI
scans
Treatment includes drugs to increase contractility (such as
digoxin), antihypertensives, diuretics, antiarrhythmics, and
anticoagulants
Possible heart transplant pt’s
Should avoid sodium!
Question
Calcium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium
Answer
Sodium
Rationale: Sodium is the major electrolyte involved with
cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy often leads to heart failure, which
develops, in part, from fluid overload. Fluid overload is often
associated with elevated sodium levels.
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Nursing Process: The Patient With Cardiomyopathy (Assessment)
History (predisposing factors, family history)
Chest pain
Review of diet (Na reduction, vitamin supplements)
Psychosocial history: impact on family, stressors, depression
Physical assessment: VS pulse pressure; pulsus paradoxus; weight
gain or loss; PMI; murmurs; S3 or S4; pulmonary auscultation for
crackles, JVD, and edema
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Nursing Process: The Patient with Cardiomyopathy (Nursing
Diagnosis)
Decreased cardiac output
Risk for ineffective cardiac, cerebral, peripheral, and renal
tissue perfusion
Impaired gas exchange
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Collaborative Problems and Potential Complications
Heart failure
Ventricular dysrhythmias
Atrial dysrhythmias
Nursing Process: The Patient With Cardiomyopathy (Planning and
Goals)
Goals
Increased activity tolerance
Reduction of anxiety
Increased sense of power with decision making
Absence of complications
Improve cardiac output and peripheral blood flow
Rest, positioning (legs down), supplemental O2, medications, low Na
diet, avoid dehydration
Increase activity tolerance and improving gas exchange
Cycle rest and activity, ensure patient recognizes symptoms that
indicate the need for rest
Reduce anxiety
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Nursing Process: The Patient With Cardiomyopathy (Nursing
Interventions) (cont’d)
Decrease the sense of powerlessness
Assist patients in identifying things that have been lost (i.e.,
ability to play sports), assist patients in identifying amount of
control they still have left
Promote home- and community-based care
Educate patients about ways to balance lifestyle and work while
accomplishing therapeutic activities
Assess patient and family and their adjustment to lifestyle
changes, educate family about CPR and AEDs, establish trust
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Nursing Process: The Patient With Cardiomyopathy (Evaluation)
Maintain or improve cardiac function
HR and RR WNL, decreased dyspnea and increased comfort, maintain or
improve gas exchange, absence of weight gain, maintain or improve
peripheral blood flow
Maintain or increase activity tolerance
Carry out activities of daily living (e.g., brush teeth, feed
self), reports increased tolerance to activity
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Nursing Process: The Patient With Cardiomyopathy (Evaluation)
(cont’d)
Reduce anxiety
Decrease sense of powerlessness
Identifies emotional response to diagnosis, discusses control that
he or she has
Adhere to self-care program
Takes medications as prescribed, modifies diet to accommodate
sodium and fluid recommendations, modifies lifestyle, identifies
S&S to be reported
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Infectious Diseases of the Heart
Any of the layers of the heart may be affected by an infectious
process.
Diseases are named by the layer of the heart that is
affected.
Diagnosis is made by patient symptoms and echocardiogram.
Blood cultures may be used to identify the infectious agent and to
monitor therapy.
Treatment is with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Patients
require teaching to complete the course of appropriate
antimicrobial therapy and require teaching for infection prevention
and health promotion.
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Types of Infectious Disease of the Heart
Rheumatic endocarditis
Occurs most often in school-age children after group A
beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis; need to promptly
recognize and treat “strep” throat to prevent rheumatic fever
Infective endocarditis
Usually develops in people with prosthetic heart valves or
structural cardiac defects; also occurs in patients who are IV drug
abusers and in those with debilitating diseases, indwelling
catheters, or prolonged IV therapy
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Types of Infectious Disease of the Heart
Pericarditis
Myocarditis
An inflammatory process involving the myocardium; most common
pathogens involved in myocarditis tend to be viral; in
endocarditis, they tend to be bacterial; complications:
cardiomyopathy and heart failure
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Clinical Manifestations: Infectious Diseases of the Heart
Fever
New heart murmur, friction rub at left lower sternal border
(pericarditis)
Osler nodes (painful, red, raised lesions found on the hands and
feet), Janeway lesions (non-tender, small erythematous or
hemorrhagic macular or nodular lesions on the palms or soles only a
few millimeters in diameter), Roth spots (retinal hemorrhages), and
splinter hemorrhages in nailbeds (Rheumatic)
Cardiomegaly, heart failure, tachycardia, splenomegaly
Fatigue, dyspnea, syncope, palpitations, chest pain
(myocarditis)
Diagnostic tools: blood cultures, echocardiogram, CBC, rheumatoid
factor, ESR, CRP, urinalysis, ECG, cardiac catheterization, CMR
imaging, TEE, CT scan
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Prevention
Ongoing oral hygiene
Female patients are advised NOT to use IUDs
Meticulous care should be taken in patients “at risk” who have
catheters
Catheters should be removed as soon as they are no longer
needed
Immunizations
Question
A patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy taking digoxin presents
with symptoms of anorexia, nausea, vomiting, headache, and malaise.
What should the nurse expect to be included in the plan of care for
this patient?
The patient’s digoxin will be changed to nifedipine.
The patient’s digoxin dose will be decreased.
Nothing; these are signs of restrictive cardiomyopathy that are
expected.
The patient will be admitted to an ICU.
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Answer
The patient’s digoxin dose will be decreased.