ABOUT THE DISEASE

Aortic stenosis, or aortic valve stenosis, is a narrowing of the aortic valve. The aorta is the main artery through which blood is pumped out of the heart. Thus aortic stenosis causes reduced blood flow making it hard for the heart to pump blood and can lead to chest pain and heart failure. Blood may back up in the lungs and blood supply to brain and other body organs get reduced.

SYMPTOMS

• • Breathlessness - Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.
• • Feeling tired
• • Chest pain - angina type
• • Heart palpitations
• • Dizziness or fainting.

In children some other symptoms may include:

• • Problems in feeding and
• • Failure to gain weight

CAUSES

Aortic stenosis may be present from birth (congenital), but usually it develops later in life (acquired). Most common reasons are calcium deposits that narrow the valve, rheumatic fever and radiation therapy.

DIAGNOSIS

- Cardiac auscultation
- Chest x-ray
- ECG
- Exercise stress testing
- Echocardiography

TREATMENT METHODS

In mild cases:
- regular watch, avoidance of strenuous physical activity, medication is advised.

In severe cases, the options are:
- Valve replacement (through open heart surgery)
- Trans catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
- Valvuloplasty

You may also like to learn about:

Aortic valve regurgitation
Heart failure
Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve stenosis
Tricuspid valve stenosis
Pulmonary hypertension