Patient was educated on pulmonary valve regurgitation and its pathogenesis as follows:
- Pulmonary valve is the valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, permitting one-way flow of blood, from the right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries.
- Pulmonary regurgitation is a condition of incomplete closing of the pulmonary valve, resulting in back flow of blood from the pulmonary arteries into the right ventricle.
- Since more blood pools on the right side of the heart, the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left ventricle, into the circulation, is reduced.
- The blood gets backed up in the right ventricle and the right atrium, increasing the volume and pressure in the right side of the heart, resulting in enlargement of the right ventricle mainly and then, also of the right atrium over time.
- This increased pressure in the right atrium can also result in increased resistance to receiving deoxygenated blood flow from the peripheries via superior and inferior vena cava, the large veins bringing venous blood from upper and lower parts of the body respectively.
- This can contribute to increased pressure and backup of blood in the peripheral veins, resulting in leakage of fluid from capillaries in the extremities, thereby, developing swelling and edema of extremities and the body.
- Reduced output of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle will result in compromised blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs and consequently, affecting their function.
- Symptoms of pulmonary regurgitation might resemble that of a right heart failure with gross reduction in the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left ventricle over time.
