The aorta is the chief artery in the body. It carries oxygenated blood from the heart to all the parts of the body. The lower chamber of the heart (left ventricle) pumps the blood into the aorta through a valve called the aortic valve. Aortic valve stenosis is a defect in the opening and closing of the valve, which prevents proper flow of oxygenated (pure) blood to the organs of the body.
Aortic valve stenosis has a very slow progress and may take some decades to show the symptoms. You will start having problems when the valve narrows down to nearly one-fourth of its original size. Symptoms usually appear during exercises, when there is more pressure on the heart.
Symptoms include:
The symptoms are different in infants and children. Symptoms may include not feeding enough or unable to gain weight. They become easily fatigued. In some children, within few weeks of birth, there can be a difficulty in breathing which can worsen with their age.
Your condition is almost serious once you have the symptoms. So, consult a doctor immediately because there is a chance of sudden death in many patients.
The heart valves open and close with every heart beat, and this is a continuous process which occurs every second till death. But due to genetic defects or some health conditions, the aortic valve may not function effectively.
Genetics: The aortic valve is made of 3 flaps, which work together to open or close. But in some children, at the time of birth, these flaps are not separated properly or may be thick which causes a defective opening and closing.
Rheumatic fever: This is a condition present in people with Strep throat, a streptococcal infection. Rheumatic fever can affect skin, heart, brain and joints. In the heart, it causes aortic valve stenosis.
Calcification of the valves: Calcium is important for strong bones. But, when the calcium levels in the body raise much high beyond the normal value, then it gets deposited in the heart valves affecting their normal functioning. This is usually seen in people aged above 65 years.
The following factors can increase the risk of you or your child getting aortic valve stenosis:
Age: With increasing age and the calcium deposition, the risk of developing aortic valve stenosis is high.
Gender: In males especially aged 30 to 60 years, the risk is high when compared to females.
Diseases: Diseases such as rheumatic fever, chronic kidney disease can increase your chances of developing aortic valve stenosis.
Some other risk factors which are similar for aortic valve stenosis and atherosclerosis include smoking, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol indicating a connection between the diseases.
When you report the symptoms, your doctor will perform a physical examination which includes listening for any abnormalities in your heart sounds. Following this, imaging studies are performed to understand the inside of your heart.
| Test type | Purpose of the test |
|---|---|
| MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) | Gives the detailed picture of the heart |
| CT (computed tomography) | Creates 3D images of the heart |
| Chest X-ray | Gives the size and shape of the heart. An enlarged lower chamber of the heart is a sign of aortic valve stenosis. |
| Echocardiogram | Provides moving images of the heart |
| Cardiac catheterization | Shows the blockages in the heart using dyes |
The heart pumps at an extra pressure in patients with aortic valve stenosis. But at some point, heart cannot put the extra efforts to pump through the narrowed valve, which leads to life-threatening problems such as
Medications can reduce the symptoms of the aortic valve stenosis, but the condition can be treated by surgical repair. It is not immediately required for you to undergo surgery. Your doctor will schedule for your operation based on the severity of your condition, as diagnosed through tests.
Medications are prescribed to lower your heart rate, reduce fluid accumulation, etc. This can slow down the progress of the disease.
Balloon valvuloplasty: A soft thin tube fitted with a balloon to one end is used in the procedure. It is inserted into the narrowed valve and inflated to open the valve wide. Later the balloon and the tube are removed. This technique is majorly used in children and infants.
Aortic valve replacement: This is performed in severe cases. Here, the defective valve is replaced with a prosthetic valve or tissue valve.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Unlike the aortic valve replacement which is performed during open-heart surgery, in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement, the prosthetic valve is inserted along the artery in your leg or along the left ventricular apex of your heart.
Surgical valvuloplasty: In this procedure, the surgeon uses tools to separate the flaps of the valve.
Below tips can help you reduce your chances or prevent you from getting aortic valve stenosis.
