What is aortic stenosis?

aortic stenosis is a narrowing of aorta, artery associated with the left ventricle of the heart through which oxygenated blood flows to return to the body. The most common cause of aortic stenosis is congenital, present at birth. However, the rheumatic fever can also cause aortic stenosis and aging was associated with the calcification of the aortic valve, causing narrowing. In the normal heart, the aortic valve has three leaflets that open when the left chamber draws blood into the aorta. Malformations of this valve can combine leaflets together or can only result in two sheets or CUSPS, called bicuspid aortic valve . Any CUSPS malformation is called valvar aortic stenosis .

The more serious form of aortic stenosis Valvar includes both fused leaflets and tissue deficiency under the valve, which further prevents blood flow to the lungs. Subvalvar aortic stenosis almost always requires immediate surgical intervention. The narrowing may also exist above the valve called supravalvar aortic stenosis . Trivial and mild aortic stenosis can be left untreated, but requires visits to a pediatric cardiologist to make sure the valve is growing properly and to assess whether stenosis deteriorates. Severe or critical aortic stenosis usually requires surgical intervention.

with a narrowed aorta, the left chamber must pump much harder to get blood into the body. While the left ventricle is a strong muscle, if it works too hard, the muscle solidifies and began to increase, which is a state called hypertrophy . Hypertrophy can eventually damage the chamber and cause reduced function. The aorta valve can also be leaking, causing part of the blood to flow back into the heart with each pump. This regurgitation can cause retention of hypertrophy and fluids.

Less blood that goes into the body means that the tissues do not get enough oxygen. Over time, untreated stenosis of aorta can damage growth, causeClubing of limbs and affecting brain development. It can also cause exhaustion, outages and dizziness.

There are basically three ways to treat aortic stenosis. balloon valvuloplastics can be used to solve mild aortic stenosis. The catheter with attached balloon is stretched by heart. In the aorta, the balloon is inflated to try to open the valve. This treatment may temporarily cause a wider opening of the aorta and, in slight cases, can cure the condition. Its advantages are that this is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.

Often, balloon valvuloplastics does not provide the desired results, or the aorta again becomes stenotic again. In these cases, surgeons recommend the replacement of the valve. There are two replacement techniques.

In the first surgeon, the aortic valve lies and replaces it with a mechanical or pig valve. Mechanical valves work very well, but have a disadvantage that they will have a much higher risk of blood clotting. Most people with mechanical valves have to takeWarfarin, thinner blood.

In children, warfarin may be particularly problematic because children are susceptible to accidents. Warfarin levels are measured so as not to cause excessive bleeding. This can mean several months of weekly blood tests and diet adjustments. Even in monitoring, the risk increases for excessive bruises and bleeding. Even a simple wound on the head can cause a concussion.

The ross procedure is often preferred to replace the mechanical valve. This surgery removes the pulmonary valve and the aortic valve and uses the pulmonary valve to replace the aorta. The pulmonary valve must be replaced by a pig valve or a donor valve. The advantage of this procedure, aside from avoidance to the mechanical valve is that the new aortic valve has a chance to grow normally and develop. Although the new lung valves are likely to need a replacement at a certain point, it is considered much easier to surgery than the replacement of the aorta.

All levels of aortic stenosis requireLifelong observation by cardiologist. Even in the least serious cases of aortic stenosis, patients must take antibiotics before dental tests and procedures to reduce the risk of bacterial endocarditis. Mild and mild aortic stenosis can reduce activity, especially in competing sports, although occasional participation in recreational sports is acceptable. The patient cardiologist will have specific recommendations on what activities you can enjoy. With surgery, a patient with aortic stenosis has an excellent chance of life of normal and effective life.