Valvular Heart Diseases

Valvular Heart Diseases encompass disorders affecting cardiac valves, leading to stenosis, insufficiency, or both. This topic covers calcific aortic stenosis, myxomatous mitral valve disease, rheumatic valvular disease, and infective endocarditis. For Zambian tertiary students in medicine, clinical medicine, and cardiology specialties, understanding valvular pathology is essential for diagnosing murmurs, managing heart failure, preventing embolic events, and planning surgical interventions. The content aligns with university and college curricula, detailing etiology, pathogenesis, morphological changes, and clinical correlations. Mastery of valvular diseases supports examination success and clinical competency in echocardiography interpretation, antibiotic prophylaxis, and long-term patient follow-up in Zambian hospitals and clinics.