Rupture of the Pulmonary Valve
Car accidents are common and impact thousands of lives every year. Some of the causes of motor vehicle collisions are preventable, such as driving while under the influence of alcohol. According to statistics that have been published on drunk driving by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Nearly 30 people are killed daily in auto accidents related to drunk driving.
- This comes out to more than one death per hour.
- Drunk driving costs the United States more than $44 billion every year.
- Close to 20 percent of deaths in children under the age of 14 are from drunk driving.
These statistics help to highlight just how dangerous it is to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, these accidents can lead to injuries that have permanent, lifelong complications. One example is a rupture of the pulmonary valve.
What is the Pulmonary Valve?
The heart is made up of four chambers which control the flow of blood. There are two atria on top and two ventricles on the bottom. Each of these chambers has a valve underneath the controls the exit of blood and its entrance into the next location. These four different heart valves include:
- The tricuspid valve
- The pulmonary valve
- The mitral valve
- The aortic valve
The pulmonary valve controls the flow of blood out of the right ventricle and into the pulmonary artery. The job of the pulmonary valve is to make sure that the pulmonary artery does not suffer an overload of blood from the right ventricle. In some cases, this valve can be torn in a traumatic accident.
How Does the Pulmonary Valve Rupture?
The pulmonary valve sits underneath the right ventricle of the heart. Similar to other structures in the thorax, the pulmonary valve is at risk of being damaged with blunt or penetrating chest trauma. If this valve becomes damaged, there are cardiovascular consequences. Some of the symptoms include:
- A loud heart murmur
- Severe chest pain
- Fainting, also called syncope
- Heart palpitations
- An enlarged jugular vein
- Trouble breathing
In order to diagnose a ruptured pulmonary valve, imaging is often required. This could be a CT scan, an MRI, or an echocardiogram. If a rupture is confirmed, the valve will probably need to be repaired or replaced. This typically requires open heart surgery, which should be reviewed with a medical professional.
Contacting an Injury Attorney
When someone requires open heart surgery to repair an injury, such as a ruptured heart valve, families often have many questions. Speaking with an injury lawyer is helpful. A trained attorney can provide assistance by:
- Helping families review accident records to make sure that all of the information is accurate.
- Reconstructing exactly what happened at the scene of the collision.
- Assisting families in asking for financial damages that are related to the accident and its injuries.
- Taking the case to the courts if needed.
Individuals and their loved ones should not feel alone following a serious motor vehicle collision. Help is available, so contact a personal injury lawyer today. You might be owed a financial reward.
Stockton Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Stockton. The pulmonary valve plays an important role in the flow of blood between the heart and the lungs. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, contact me at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly legal advice.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
You can see our verdicts or settlements here.
Visit Yelp, Avvo, & Google to see our past client reviews.
Rupture of the Pulmonary Valve: Autoaccident.com
Photo by Pixabay
:dr 0p cha [cs 618] cv