Bicuspid Aortic Valve Information

One of the most common, congenital heart defects is a bicuspid aortic valve. A bicuspid aortic valve occurs when the human heart does not fully develop as the baby matures in the womb.

While normal aortic valves have three tissue leaflets to regulate the flow of blood in the heart, a bicuspid valve has only two leaflets to perform that function. It is estimated that 1-2% of all children are born with bicuspid aortic valves, according to the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation.

Over time, a bicuspid aortic valve can compromise basic heart function that can lead to an enlarged heart muscle or even heart failure. While symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness are common for patients suffering from bicuspid aortic valve disorders, other patients can be asymptomatic. If the bicuspid valve triggers severe aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation for the patient, surgical treatments are deployed to repair or replace the bicuspid valve.

It should be noted, however, that bicuspid aortic valves are not the only form of congenital disorders impacting the aortic valve.

"Over the past few years, I have been actively monitoring aortic valve defects for patients," notes Adam Pick, a double heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient''s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. "While bicuspid aortic valves are most commonly diagnosed," notes Pick, "I have come across patients with a unicuspid aortic valve and a quad-cuspid aortic valve."

Mr. Pick had his bicuspid aortic valve replaced in 2005. "I lived for 33 years with a bicuspid aortic valve," Pick stated, "I''m proof that patients can go on to live a wonderful life after open heart surgery to correct a bicuspid aortic valve."

Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient''s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients which suffered from bicuspid aortic valve, mitral valve prolapse and other valve disorders.