Oct 20th, 2021 - Overview Esophagus Open pop-up dialog box Close Esophagus Esophagus The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. Rings of muscle (sphincters) in the upper and lower portions contract and relax to allow food and liquid to pass. Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing — taking more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia can be p...

Sep 29th, 2021 - Diagnosis Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and listen for a heart murmur, a possible sign of a heart valve condition. You might have several tests to diagnose your condition. Tests might include: Echocardiography. Sound waves directed at your heart from a wandlike device (transducer) produce video images of your heart in motion. This test assesses the structure of your heart, the...

Sep 29th, 2021 - Overview In heart valve disease, one or more of the valves in your heart doesn't work properly. Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. In some cases, one or more of the valves don't open or close properly. This can cause the blood flow through your heart to your body to be disrupted. Your heart valve disease treatment depends on the heart valve affected and...

Sep 29th, 2021 - Heart valve disease care at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic team discussion A team of doctors collaborate and discuss heart valve disease. Your Mayo Clinic care team At Mayo Clinic, doctors trained in heart disease (cardiologists), doctors trained in heart surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) and other heart valve disease specialists work together to provide you with coordinated, comprehensive care. This ...

Sep 3rd, 2021 - Diagnosis A diagnosis of hydrocephalus is usually based on: Your answers to the doctor's questions about signs and symptoms A general physical exam A neurological exam Brain-imaging tests Neurological exam The type of neurological exam will depend on a person's age. The neurologist might ask questions and conduct relatively simple tests in the office to judge muscle condition, movement, well-be...

Sep 2nd, 2021 - Overview A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth. The small flaplike opening is between the right and left upper chambers of the heart (atria). As a baby grows in the womb, the foramen ovale (foh-RAY-mun oh-VAY-lee) is present in between the right and left top chambers of the heart (atria). It normally closes during infancy. When the f...

Aug 26th, 2021 - Overview Pulmonary stenosis Open pop-up dialog box Close Pulmonary stenosis Pulmonary stenosis In pulmonary stenosis, narrowing of the pulmonary valve blocks blood flow from the lower right lower chamber (right ventricle) to the lung (pulmonary) arteries. The greater the narrowing, the harder the right ventricle must work to pump blood to the lungs. The increased pressure causes the right ventr...

Aug 26th, 2021 - Diagnosis Pulmonary valve stenosis is often diagnosed in childhood. However, it may not be detected until later in life. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your or your child's heart. A whooshing sound (murmur) caused by choppy (turbulent) blood flow across the narrowed valve may be heard. Tests to diagnose pulmonary valve stenosis may include: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This q...

Aug 24th, 2021 - Pulmonary valve disease care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart conditions (cardiologists), doctors trained in treating children with heart conditions (pediatric cardiologists), heart surgeons (cardiovascular surgeons) and other specialists work together as a team to provide coordinated, comprehensive care. This collaborative approach means doctors ca...

Aug 24th, 2021 - Overview Pulmonary valve disease is a condition in which the lung (pulmonary) valve — located between your heart's lower right chamber (right ventricle) and the artery that delivers blood to the lungs (pulmonary artery) — doesn't work properly. The condition can interrupt blood flow from your heart to your lungs. The pulmonary valve normally acts like a one-way door from your heart's right vent...

Aug 17th, 2021 - Overview What is truncus arteriosus? Truncus arteriosus (TRUN-kus are-teer-e-OH-sus) is a congenital heart defect (heart condition that’s present at birth). A baby with truncus arteriosus has one large artery (instead of the usual two arteries) for blood to flow in and out of the heart. These babies also have a single truncal valve instead of two valves to control this blood flow. Truncus arter...

Aug 12th, 2021 - Aortic valve regurgitation care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart conditions (cardiologists), doctors trained in heart surgery (cardiovascular surgeons), imaging specialists and others work together to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition. This team approach often means doctors can evaluate you and develop a treatment plan with...

Aug 12th, 2021 - Diagnosis To diagnose aortic valve regurgitation, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions about your signs and symptoms and you and your family's medical history. Your doctor may hear an abnormal sound (murmur) when listening to your heart with a stethoscope. A doctor trained in heart disease (cardiologist) may evaluate you. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose aortic v...

Aug 12th, 2021 - Overview Aortic valve regurgitation Open pop-up dialog box Close Aortic valve regurgitation Aortic valve regurgitation In aortic valve regurgitation, the aortic valve doesn't close properly, causing blood to leak backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. Aortic valve regurgitation — or aortic regurgitation — is a condition that occurs when your heart's aortic valve doesn't close tightly....

Aug 11th, 2021 - Double-outlet right ventricle Double-outlet right ventricle Open pop-up dialog box Close Double-outlet right ventricle Double-outlet right ventricle In double-outlet right ventricle, the aorta and pulmonary artery connect partially or completely to the right ventricle. A hole also exists between the two ventricles (ventricular septal defect). In a normal heart, as shown on the left, the pulmona...

Aug 11th, 2021 - Overview If your child has a congenital heart defect, it means that your child was born with a problem in the structure of his or her heart. Some congenital heart defects in children are simple and don't need treatment. Other congenital heart defects in children are more complex and may require several surgeries performed over a period of several years. Learning about your child's congenital he...

Aug 6th, 2021 - Diagnosis Detecting an aortic dissection can be a challenge because the symptoms are similar to those of many other health problems. Your doctor may think you have an aortic dissection if you have: Sudden tearing or ripping chest pain Blood pressure difference between the right and left arms Widening of the aorta on chest X-ray Tests to diagnose aortic dissection include: Transesophageal echoca...

Aug 6th, 2021 - Diagnosis Early diagnosis of myocarditis is important to preventing long-term heart damage. After a physical examination, your doctor might order one or more tests to confirm that you have myocarditis and determine its severity. Tests to diagnose myocarditis might include: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test shows your heart's electrical patterns and can detect abnormal...

Jul 26th, 2021 - Overview What is Aortic Disease? What is aortic dissection? Your aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. The wall of your aorta is made up of three tissue layers — an inner layer (intima), middle layer (media) and outer layer (adventitia). An aortic dissection begins abruptly when a tear occurs in the inner layer of a weakened area ...

Jul 23rd, 2021 - Diagnosis Atrioventricular canal defect might be detected in a baby before birth using ultrasound and special heart imaging. After birth, signs and symptoms of complete atrioventricular canal defect are usually noticeable within the first few weeks. When listening to your baby's heart, your doctor might hear an abnormal whooshing sound (heart murmur). If your baby is having signs and symptoms o...