Comprehensive Symptom Navigator™
Your health assistant, simplified.
Disclaimer: This is just an assistant. It should not be used for diagnosing patients without a doctor's discretion.
Symptoms:
Number of Conditions: 3
Complications of Heart Valve Surgery
Specialty: Cardiovascular
Category: Other Cardiovascular Conditions
Sub-category: Post-Surgical/Cardiac Intervention Complications
Symptoms:
fever; fatigue; shortness of breath; chest pain; arrhythmias; swelling in legs; wound infection symptoms (redness, discharge)
Root Cause:
Complications can arise from mechanical valve malfunction, infection (endocarditis), or issues related to prosthetic valve placement (e.g., thrombosis, structural degeneration).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiography (TTE or TEE), blood cultures (for infections), imaging studies (e.g., CT for paravalvular leaks), and clinical symptoms.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the complication.
Medications:
Antibiotics for infection (e.g., vancomycin , ceftriaxone ); anticoagulants like warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for thromboembolism; diuretics or antiarrhythmic drugs for heart failure or arrhythmias.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies depending on the type of valve and procedure; prosthetic valve endocarditis occurs in 1-6% of cases, while mechanical valve thrombosis is less frequent.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Older age, diabetes, poor surgical technique, previous infections, inadequate anticoagulation.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment but varies by complication; prosthetic valve endocarditis can have a high mortality rate if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection (endocarditis), valve dysfunction (stenosis or regurgitation), paravalvular leaks, thromboembolism, arrhythmias, bleeding from anticoagulation.
Hypertensive Nephropathy
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Vascular Kidney Diseases
Symptoms:
proteinuria; hematuria; swelling in legs; fatigue; decreased urine output; high blood pressure
Root Cause:
Chronic hypertension damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to decreased kidney function and scarring (nephrosclerosis).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood pressure readings, urinalysis (proteinuria and hematuria), renal function tests (eGFR, creatinine levels), and imaging (ultrasound, CT).
Treatment:
Blood pressure control through lifestyle changes, medications, and monitoring for kidney function decline.
Medications:
ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common cause of chronic kidney disease, particularly in individuals with long-standing hypertension.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and family history of kidney disease.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Manageable with effective blood pressure control; progression to end-stage kidney disease is possible if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and cardiovascular diseases.
Kidney Involvement in Multiple Myeloma (Myeloma Kidney)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Hematologic-Related Kidney Conditions
Symptoms:
fatigue; swelling in legs; decreased urine output; bone pain; frequent infections; nausea and vomiting
Root Cause:
Deposition of light chains in the kidney tubules due to excessive production by malignant plasma cells, leading to tubular obstruction and renal damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (serum protein electrophoresis, serum free light chains), urine tests (Bence-Jones protein), kidney biopsy, and imaging (X-rays, MRI, or PET scans for bone lesions).
Treatment:
Management of multiple myeloma with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and supportive measures for kidney function, such as avoiding nephrotoxic drugs and adequate hydration.
Medications:
Medications include bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor), lenalidomide (immunomodulatory drug), and dexamethasone (corticosteroid). These are classified as targeted therapies and supportive treatments.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Kidney involvement occurs in approximately 20-50% of multiple myeloma cases.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Multiple myeloma diagnosis, advanced age, male sex, African-American ethnicity.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the stage of multiple myeloma and kidney function at the time of diagnosis; early intervention improves outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances, anemia, and an increased risk of infections.