children s health issues
Aortic Valve Stenosis in Children
Introduction
Aortic valve stenosis is a narrowing of the valve that opens to allow blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta and then to the body. This defect makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. When valve narrowing is mild, most children have no symptoms. When valve narrowing is more severe, children may gradually develop symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, or shortness of breath or fainting during exercise. Infants with severe aortic valve stenosis usually become very ill within the first weeks of life. The diagnosis is suspected when a heart murmur is noticed during a doctor's examination and confirmed by echocardiography (ultrasonography of the heart). Surgery or a catheter procedure may be needed to fix the valve. Very abnormal valves may need to be replaced. (See also Overview of Heart Defects . For this disorder in adults, see To propel blood through the narrowed aortic valve, the left ventricle must pump under very high pressures. Sometimes, not enough blood is pumped to supply the body with oxygenated blood. In newborns, the left ventricle may be suddenly stressed after birth and may not pump well. The aortic valve obstruction is sometimes progressive and, if it becomes severe, may lead to the heart failing to pump adequately at any age. The most common cause of aortic valve stenosis is Bicuspid Aortic Valve The aortic valve is the valve that opens with each heartbeat to allow blood to flow from the heart to the body. A normal aortic valve has three cusps, or leaflets. When the valve is bicuspid, it has only two cusps instead of three. 