DR. MARK J. RUSSO, MD, MS
 Contact Us         
(732) 235-7231
  • Home
    • News >
      • COVID-19 Info
      • Publications >
        • 404 >
          • Aortic Landing
          • Morris Essex - The Vigor is Back
          • TAVR Landing
          • Morris Essex - A Better Heart Valve Fix
          • Mark Russo receives STS Presidents Awards
          • Mark Russo receives TSFRE Award
          • Mark Russo Named Healthcare Hero
      • Videos
    • Minimalist Therapies >
      • Home-BU >
        • Home
        • Home 112720
        • Home_11302020
        • Home >
          • Home
        • Home
        • Home >
          • Home
          • Home
  • Aortic Valve
    • Aortic Stenosis
    • Aortic Insufficiency
    • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
    • Bicuspid Aortic Valve
  • Mitral Valve
    • Mitral Valve Repair
    • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
    • Mitraclip
  • TAVR
    • TAVR Evalulation
    • Low Risk TAVR
  • Aortic Aneurysms
    • Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance
    • Valve Sparing Aortic Root
    • Aortic Dissection
    • The Aorta >
      • Aortic Valve
      • Aortic Root >
        • Aortic Root Aneurysm
      • Ascending Aorta
      • Aortic Arch >
        • Aortic Arch Aneurysm
      • Descending Aorta >
        • Descending (Thoracic) Aortic Aneurysm
        • Thoraco-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
      • Abdominal Aorta >
        • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Clinical Trials
    • JenaValve
    • CLASP MR - PASCAL
    • CLASP TR - PASCAL
    • SUMMIT - Tendyne
    • Repair MR
    • EarlyTAVR
    • Accurate
  • Appointment
    • Office Visit
    • One Stop Workup
    • Prior to Surgery
    • Patient Handbook
    • After Surgery
  • 2nd Opinion

What is a Bicuspid Aortic Valve?

What is the association with Aorta Aneurysms and​ Aortic Insufficiency ?

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a defect of the aortic valve that results in the formation of two leaflets or cusps instead of the normal three. It is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly. About 1–2% of the population has bicuspid aortic valves (BAV). Bicuspid aortic valve is an inheritable condition. The incidence of bicuspid aortic valve can be as high as 10% in families affected with the valve problem. 

This disease can lead to other heart complications such as aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency,  and an enlarged aorta.
Picture
Picture

What is the Association between BAV and Aortic

​Stenosis
 

BAV may become calcified later in life, which may lead to varying degrees of severity of aortic stenosis. If the leaflets do not close correctly, aortic regurgitation can occur. If these become severe enough, they may require heart surgery. The heart is put under more stress in order to either pump more blood through a stenotic valve or attempt to circulate regurgitation blood through a leaking valve. Due to poor heart performance, people with BAV may become tired more easily than those with normal valvular function, and they  may have difficulty maintaining stamina for cardio-intensive activities.

Most patients with bicuspid aortic valve whose valve becomes dysfunctional will need careful follow-up and potentially valve replacement at some point in life. Regular ECG and MRI may be performed. For diagnosed patients, genetic testing is done to allow for future offspring with the disease to be monitored and treated early in life.
An important associated problem is that the aorta of patients with bicuspid aortic valve is not normal in strength or size.  Aortas of patients with a bicuspid aortic valve do not have the same histological (cellular) characteristics of a normal aorta. In particular, the tensile strength of the aortal wall is reduced, which puts these patients at higher risk for dilation of the ascending aorta (aortic aneurysm) which may result in a leaky aortic valve (aortic insufficiency) or a tear in the aorta (aortic dissection) and  formation of the ascending aorta. 

The size of the proximal aorta should be evaluated carefully during the work-up. The initial diameter of the aorta should be noted. An annual evaluation with CT scan, or MRI (to avoid ionizing radiation), should be recommended to the patient. The examination should be conducted more frequently if a change in aortic diameter is seen. From this monitoring, the type of surgery that should be offered to the patient can be determined based on the change in size of the aorta. 

Congenital Defects  

Other congenital defects are associated with bicuspid aortic valve at various frequencies, including coarctation of the aorta, mitral valve leakage, kidney or liver cysts,  near-sighted vision,  musculoskeletal degenerative changes (scoliosis, degenerative spinal discs, flexible joints, flat feet, etc.), and aneurysm or dissection of smaller arteries (berry aneurysms)

If I have a bicuspid aortic valve do I need treatment?

Close surveillance is recommended for people with bicuspid valves. Some people with bicuspid aortic valve will never need treatment.  However many will go on to develop aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis, and/or aortic aneurysms and at much higher rates then people with trileaflet valves.  

Please call our office for an appointment 732-235-7231
Appointment - 732-235-7231
​Patients:   We are committed to providing you with an appointment within 7 days of your request. For your convenience, Telemedicine Consults are available.   If you have questions in the meantime, please   Ask Our Experts.
Patient   Appointments   -  732-235-7231

​ Physicians:   Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks, to assist in the care of your patients and to facilitate urgent, emergent and elective transfers at the local, regional, national and international levels​
RWJUH Transfer Center   -   732-427-5725
About Dr. Russo
Telemedicine
Aortic Aneurysms
Minimally Invasive Surgery
TAVR
Mitraclip
Clinical Trials

2nd Opinion
Ask Dr. Russo
Getting a second opinion can provide peace of mind and confidence that you have been diagnosed appropriately and understand of all your treatment options. 
​Send your non-urgent questions regarding your aortic,  heart, and vascular conditions via email.

Mark J Russo, MD, MS
 Chief, Cardiac Surgery

Director, Structural Heart Disease
Associate Professor of Surgery
​
​Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson
University  Hospital 
​125 Paterson St
​New Brunswick, NJ  ​08901

Office: 732-235-7231
Fax:   
732-235-8963​
Expert in Complex Aortic  Disease, Valve Surgery, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repalcement (TAVR) , and Mitraclip
Picture
(c) Mark Russo 2020
Dr. Russo performs the full range of cardiac surgery including  Coronary Artery Surgery - Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts; Bypass Surgery;  CABG;  Coronary Artery Surgery; Reoperation; Off Pump Bypass Surgery; Off Pump Heart Surgery; Valve Surgery - Aortic Valve Repair; Aortic Valve Replacement; Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement ; Reoperatve Heart Valve Surgery;;  Endovascular and Hybrid Aortic Surgery;  Transcatheter Valve Surgery - TAVR, TAVI, ViV, MVIV, valve-in-valve; Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement; Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery​; Aortic Surgery - Aorta Surgery; Aortic Dissection; Complex Aorta Surgery; Valve Sparing Roots, Heart Surgery for Marfan Syndrome; Aortic Root Aneurysms; Ascending Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Arch Aneurysms; Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms; Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Dissections, including Type A Dissections and Type B Dissections; Native Aortic and Prosthetic Graft Infections, including Endocarditis; Congenital Aortic Disease, such as Marfan's syndrome and Loeys Dietz; Transplant Surgery - Heart and Lung.  He was trained by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Craig Smith and Eric Rose.  Read about Matt Millen undergoing Heart Transplant