What is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic Stenosis is a condition where the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta (main artery leading out of the heart) is not shaped properly and does not open all the way. This can vary quite a bit. The most common form is called a bicuspid aortic valve where the valve has two cusps (or parts) instead of three. In this condition there is no pressure difference across the valve and the only finding is an extra noise called a click. Many times, one or more parts (or cusps) of the aortic valve is thickened and stiff. Usually, when there is an abnormal valve there is a pressure difference across the valve forcing the left ventricle to work harder than normal. Aortic stenosis can be seen with other cardiac defects such as Coarctation of the Aorta and Mitral valve abnormalities.
Aortic Stenosis refers to a condition that causes obstruction to blood flow between the left ventricle and the aorta. There are a variety of causes, including muscular obstruction below the aortic valve, obstruction at the valve itself, or aortic narrowing immediately above the valve. The most common form of aortic stenosis is obstruction at the valve itself, referred to as aortic valvar stenosis, which is the subject of this section. The normal aortic valve consists of three thin and pliable valve leaflets. When the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, normal aortic valve leaflets spread apart easily and cause no obstruction to outflow of the blood from the heart. Aortic stenosis occurs when abnormalities of the aortic valve lead to narrowing and obstruction between the left ventricle and the aorta. The most common abnormality occurs when the aortic valve has only two (instead of three) leaflets. This is called a bicuspid aortic valve (or BAV). Often the valve leaflets are thic
