RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The challenge of valvular heart disease: When is it time to operate?
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 463
OP 482
VO 71
IS 6
A1 Reginelli, Joel P.
A1 Griffin, Brian
YR 2004
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/6/463.abstract
AB In patients with valve disease, operating too soon exposes them to unnecessary surgical risk, but waiting too long may lead to cardiac damage and poor outcome. When to refer a patient for surgery depends on which valve is involved, the type of defect (stenosis or regurgitation), the degree of the defect, and the degree of symptoms or functional impairment.