Aortic Stenosis |
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Aortic stenosis is a birth defect in which the valve between the heart and the blood vessel called the aorta is deformed and too narrow to allow healthy blood flow.
The valves in the heart are like one-way doors that allow blood to flow in the appropriate direction. A healthy aortic valve is made up of three flaps, called leaflets, that open and close together. When oxygenated blood leaves the lungs, it goes into the left side of the heart and exits into the aorta, which carries blood from the heart to arteries throughout the body.
When the aortic valve is deformed, blood may "back-up" into the heart and lungs. Aortic stenosis can be a congenital disorder or can be caused by other conditions. It can affect babies, children and adults, although often symptoms don't occur until middle age or later. At one time, the condition was associated with childhood rheumatic fever, which has become less common.
There are different types of aortic stenosis that may occur independently or in combination with one another. Aortic stenosis also may occur with other heart defects.
- Critical aortic stenosis — This is an extremely narrow aortic valve, which causes death if not treated quickly. Severe obstruction to blood flow causes left heart failure and lung congestion. These babies may experience shorteness of breath and fainting as well as low blood pressure. They may be misdiagnosed as having shock due to sepsis.
- Subaortic obstruction stenosis — This is a narrowing just below the valve.
- Supra-valvar obstruction stenosis — This is a narrowing just above the valve.
- Valvar stenosis — This occurs when the valve opening has only one or two leaflets instead of the normal three.
At UCSF Children's Hospital, our pediatric heart specialists are leaders in diagnosing and treating aortic stenosis. This condition is repaired in our Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call:
Pediatric Heart Center (415) 353-2008
For help finding a doctor, please contact our Physician Referral Service:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 25, 2007
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