Aortic Tissue Valve is too small. Problem?

[mrkchnk]

My original aortic valve was bicuspid and early last year became infected and caused the valve to fail. The valve was replaced with a bovine tissue valve in April of 2009. My recovery was considered normal.

This past week I went to the emergency room complaining pain in my left chest area when I took a deep breath. After I was admitted to the hospital several test were run including x-Ray, EKG, CAT scan, Echocardiogram and Transesophageal Echocardiogram.  

The diagnosis was Pericarditis.

During the explanation of the diagnosis my cardiologist mentioned that the test showed that the pressures in my aortic ventricle are higher than normal. This high pressure was due to my newly installed heart valve, it is too small. Yes bells and buzzers should have gone off at the time but they did not.

The ER doctor also mentioned that I had a higher than normal white blood cell count.

I was prescribed Naprosyn twice a day and then sent home with a return visit in 60 days. After 24 hours of taking the medication the pain does seem to be subsiding.

What are the implications of having to high a pressure in the aortic ventricle? What question should I be asking?

[kenkeith]

A small orifice (valve opening) would cause high gradient pressure from the left ventricle to the aorta vessel and the left ventricle would have to increase in size to overcome the pressure to pump blood into circulation.  An enlarged ventricle can/will decrease pumping contractions eventually and heart failure.  If the size increase of the LV can be maintained at a minimum with medication, the cardiovascular system may compensate effectfully and a serious medical problem avoided.