Heart Failure in Aortic Stenosis — Improving Diagnosis and Treatment Michael R

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Heart Failure in Aortic Stenosis — Improving Diagnosis and Treatment Michael R The new england journal of medicine perspective Heart Failure in Aortic Stenosis — Improving Diagnosis and Treatment Michael R. Zile, M.D., and William H. Gaasch, M.D. The development of heart failure in patients with tional to the stroke volume divided by the square aortic stenosis is associated with a high mortality root of the pressure gradient. Therefore, if the stroke rate — unless aortic-valve replacement is per- volume declines, as it does in some patients with formed. There is an especially high risk of death aortic stenosis in whom heart failure has developed, among patients with aortic stenosis and a decreased there is a proportional decline in the pressure gra- ejection fraction. Before surgery is performed in dient. Under these low-flow conditions, the cal- such patients, initial management must include an culated effective aortic-valve area may indicate the evaluation of the severity of the stenotic lesion and presence of severe aortic stenosis, despite a low the functional state of the left ventricle; in addition, transvalvular pressure gradient. A mean pressure the heart failure must be treated and the patient’s gradient that is less than 30 mm Hg in a patient with condition stabilized. It is possible to pursue both what appears to be severe aortic stenosis (an aortic- of these goals simultaneously with echocardio- valve area of <1 cm2) indicates what is referred to as graphic techniques or cardiac catheterization tech- “low-gradient aortic stenosis.” niques, together with selected pharmacologic in- An example of a low pressure gradient in a pa- terventions. Proper evaluation and treatment require an un- derstanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure ABC in patients with aortic stenosis. Hypertrophic re- Aortic modeling provides a compensatory mechanism by pressure which the left ventricle can generate increased sys- tolic pressures while maintaining normal systolic Left ventricular wall stress (afterload) and a normal ejection frac- pressure tion. If, however, the hypertrophic remodeling is Base Line DB NP DB NP DB NP inadequate, systolic wall stress will be increased. There is an inverse relation between wall stress and Stroke volume 0 or 0 or the ejection fraction: the presence of afterload ex- Pressure gradient 0 0 0 cess results in a decline in the ejection fraction. Aor- Aortic-valve area 0 0 0 0 tic-valve replacement can increase the ejection frac- Diagnosis True aortic Relative aortic Severe left tion by correcting the afterload excess created by a stenosis stenosis ventricular dysfunction truly stenotic valve. Benefit from aortic- Yes Possible No A second mechanism that can produce a de- valve replacement pressed ejection fraction in patients with aortic ste- nosis is a decline in the intrinsic contractility of the Hemodynamic Response to Dobutamine (DB) and Nitroprusside (NP) in Pa- myocardium. Aortic-valve replacement may have lit- tients with Aortic Stenosis and a Low Transvalvular Pressure Gradient. tle or no effect on the ejection fraction if decreased The base-line panel shows an example representing a typical patient with low- contractility coexists with “relative” aortic stenosis gradient aortic stenosis. The hemodynamic response to treatment with dobu- tamine and nitroprusside helps to clarify whether such a patient has true aortic (or “pseudo” aortic stenosis) or if there is a primary stenosis (Panel A), relative aortic stenosis (Panel B), or severe left ventricular cardiomyopathy (see Figure). dysfunction (Panel C). A zero denotes no change, a single arrow an increase in In true severe aortic stenosis, the aortic-valve the value for the particular variable, and two arrows a large increase in the value. area is constant (or nearly constant) and is propor- n engl j med 348;18 www.nejm.org may 1, 2003 1735 Downloaded from www.nejm.org by GEOFFREY K. LIGHTHALL MD on May 06, 2003. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. All rights reserved. The new england journal of medicine tient with true severe aortic stenosis is shown in A third group of patients has little or no response Panel A of the Figure. The low pressure gradient is to dobutamine or nitroprusside (Panel C). These a consequence of a low stroke volume, which re- patients have severe and generally irreversible left sults in large part from increased systolic wall stress ventricular dysfunction and a poor prognosis. Al- (afterload excess). The intravenous administration though these patients have aortic-valve disease, the of dobutamine or nitroprusside produces an in- valve disease itself does not contribute substantial- crease in the stroke volume and an increase in the ly to the left ventricular dysfunction. Medical therapy systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve, is directed at the cardiomyopathic failing ventricle. but there is no change in the calculated aortic-valve Once heart failure develops in patients with true area. The absence of a change in the valve area un- aortic stenosis, aortic-valve replacement should be der different hemodynamic conditions indicates the performed as soon as the patient is medically sta- presence of true severe aortic stenosis. Patients with ble. Medical treatment includes the judicious use true stenosis have a salutary response to aortic-valve of diuretics and may, in selected cases, require the replacement. use of a positive inotropic agent or a vasodilator. However, not all patients with a low pressure Vasodilators such as nitroprusside have generally gradient and a calculated aortic-valve area of less been thought to be contraindicated in patients with than 1 cm2 in fact have true severe aortic stenosis. aortic stenosis because of the danger of hypoten- Some of these patients have aortic-valve disease sion. In this issue of the Journal, Khot et al. (pages without severe stenosis (relative aortic stenosis). In 1756–1763) report their experience with the thera- these patients, the decreased ejection fraction and peutic use of nitroprusside in patients with true low pressure gradient are caused primarily by de- aortic stenosis and a decreased ejection fraction. creased contractility. It is difficult to differentiate They reasoned that aortic valvular obstruction and patients with true aortic stenosis from those with increased total vascular resistance act in concert to relative aortic stenosis, because low-flow states lim- load the left ventricle and that such a doubly loaded it the accuracy of the valve-area calculation. It is un- ventricle might benefit from a reduction in systemic der these circumstances that selected pharmaco- resistance. They found a substantial increase in car- logic interventions can be helpful. diac output (with both high-gradient and low-gradi- An example of a low pressure gradient in a pa- ent aortic stenosis), and they concluded that nitro- tient with relative aortic stenosis is shown in Panel prusside was a safe and effective therapeutic bridge B of the Figure. Such patients have a variable aortic- to aortic-valve replacement. However, the patients valve area that is dependent on the stroke volume. they studied were highly selected, were invasively The administration of dobutamine or nitroprusside monitored, and were being treated in an intensive produces an increase in flow across the aortic valve care unit. There are substantial risks associated with that is well out of proportion to the increase in the this approach that should limit its wide application. transvalvular pressure gradient; during infusion of Whether treatment with positive inotropic agents nitroprusside, the gradient may even decrease. As a would produce a similar effect with fewer risks re- result, the calculated aortic-valve area increases by mains to be determined. at least one third, or 0.3 cm2, and may exceed 1 cm2. Patients with aortic stenosis, a depressed ejec- Such a patient has relative aortic stenosis, and the tion fraction, and a low transvalvular pressure gra- value of aortic-valve replacement in this condition dient continue to pose a management challenge. Ju- remains in doubt. It is not known whether medical dicious use of pharmacologic interventions in an treatment significantly alters the outcome, nor is it invasive setting has the potential to improve diag- clear that the response to dobutamine or nitroprus- nosis and treatment. side is predictive of the subsequent response to medical therapy. Given the rapid advances in surgery From the Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Gazes and valve design, some patients with relative aor- Cardiac Research Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, and the Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical tic stenosis may benefit from aortic-valve replace- Center — both in Charleston, S.C. (M.R.Z.); and the Department of ment. In general, however, although optimal treat- Cardiovascular Medicine, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Mass. (W.H.G.). ment remains uncertain, treatment of relative aortic stenosis should be focused on medical therapy. 1736 n engl j med 348;18 www.nejm.org may 1, 2003 Downloaded from www.nejm.org by GEOFFREY K. LIGHTHALL MD on May 06, 2003. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. All rights reserved..
Recommended publications
  • Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Valvular Heart Disease
    Europace (2017) 0, 1–21 EHRA CONSENSUS DOCUMENT doi:10.1093/europace/eux240 Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation associated with valvular heart disease: a joint consensus document from the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Thrombosis, endorsed by the ESC Working Group on Valvular Heart Disease, Cardiac Arrhythmia Society of Southern Africa (CASSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), South African Heart (SA Heart) Association and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estimulacion Cardıaca y Electrofisiologıa (SOLEACE) Gregory Y. H. Lip1*, Jean Philippe Collet2, Raffaele de Caterina3, Laurent Fauchier4, Deirdre A. Lane5, Torben B. Larsen6, Francisco Marin7, Joao Morais8, Calambur Narasimhan9, Brian Olshansky10, Luc Pierard11, Tatjana Potpara12, Nizal Sarrafzadegan13, Karen Sliwa14, Gonzalo Varela15, Gemma Vilahur16, Thomas Weiss17, Giuseppe Boriani18 and Bianca Rocca19 Document Reviewers: Bulent Gorenek20 (Reviewer Coordinator), Irina Savelieva21, Christian Sticherling22, Gulmira Kudaiberdieva23, Tze-Fan Chao24, Francesco Violi25, Mohan Nair26, Leandro Zimerman27, Jonathan Piccini28, Robert Storey29, Sigrun Halvorsen30, Diana Gorog31, Andrea Rubboli32, Ashley Chin33 and Robert Scott-Millar34 * Corresponding author. Tel/fax: þ44 121 5075503. E-mail address: [email protected] Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. VC The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: [email protected]. 2 G.Y.H. Lip 1Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark (Chair, representing EHRA); 2Sorbonne Universite´ Paris 6, ACTION Study Group, Institut De Cardiologie, Groupe Hoˆpital Pitie´-Salpetrie`re (APHP), INSERM UMRS 1166, Paris, France; 3Institute of Cardiology, ‘G.
    [Show full text]
  • Avalus™ Pericardial Aortic Surgical Valve System
    FACT SHEET Avalus™ Pericardial Aortic Surgical Valve System Aortic stenosis is a common heart problem caused by a narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve due to excessive calcium deposited on the valve leaflets. When the valve narrows, it does not open or close properly, making the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Eventually, this causes the heart to weaken and function poorly, which may lead to heart failure and increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Disease The standard treatment for patients with aortic valve disease is surgical aortic valve Overview: replacement (SAVR). During this procedure, a surgeon will make an incision in the sternum to open the chest and expose the heart. The diseased native valve is then Aortic removed and a new artificial valve is inserted. Once in place, the device is sewn into Stenosis the aorta and takes over the original valve’s function to enable oxygen-rich blood to flow efficiently out of the heart. For patients that are unable to undergo surgical aortic valve replacement, or prefer a minimally-invasive therapy option, an alternative procedure to treat severe aortic stenosis is called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The Avalus Pericardial Aortic Surgical Valve System is a next- generation aortic surgical valve from Medtronic, offering advanced design concepts and unique features for the millions of patients with severe aortic stenosis who are candidates for open- heart surgery. The Avalus Surgical Valve The Avalus valve, made of bovine tissue, is also the only stented surgical aortic valve on the market that is MRI-safe (without restrictions) enabling patients with severe aortic stenosis who have the Avalus valve to undergo screening procedures for potential co-morbidities.
    [Show full text]
  • Accuracy of the Single Cycle Length Method for Calculation of Aortic Effective Orifice Area in Irregular Heart Rhythms
    AORTIC STENOSIS Accuracy of the Single Cycle Length Method for Calculation of Aortic Effective Orifice Area in Irregular Heart Rhythms Kerry A. Esquitin, MD, Omar K. Khalique, MD, Qi Liu, MD, Susheel K. Kodali, MD, Leo Marcoff, MD, Tamim M. Nazif, MD, Isaac George, MD, Torsten P. Vahl, MD, Martin B. Leon, MD, and Rebecca T. Hahn, MD, New York, New York; and Morristown, New Jersey Introduction: In irregular heart rhythms, echocardiographic calculation of aortic effective orifice area (EOA) re- quires averaging measurements from multiple cardiac cycles. Whether a single cycle length method can be used to calculate aortic EOA in aortic stenosis with nonsinus rhythms is not known. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiograms of 100 patients with aortic stenosis and either atrial fibrillation (AF) or frequent ectopy (FE) were retrospectively reviewed. The aortic valve velocity time integral (VTIAV) and the left ven- tricular outflow tract VTI (VTILVOT) were measured by two methods: the standard method (averaging multiple beats) and the single cycle length method. The latter matches the R-R intervals for VTIAV and VTILVOT.Stroke volume, EOA, and Doppler velocity index were calculated by both methods in all patients. The single cycle length method was used for short and long R-R cycles in AF and for postectopic beats (long R-R cycles) in FE. Results: In AF, long R-R cycles resulted in larger stroke volumes (73 6 21 vs 63 6 18 mL; P # .0001) but no difference in EOA (0.84 6 0.27 vs 0.82 6 0.27 cm2; P = .11), whereas short R-R cycles resulted in smaller stroke volumes (55 6 18 vs 63 6 18 mL, P # .0001) but a larger EOA (0.86 6 0.28 vs 0.82 6 0.27 cm2; P = .01).
    [Show full text]
  • Imaging and Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis in Aortic Stenosis
    JACC: CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING VOL. 12, NO. 2, 2019 ª 2019 THE AUTHORS. PUBLISHED BY ELSEVIER ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY FOUNDATION. THIS IS AN OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE UNDER THE CC BY LICENSE (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). FOCUS ISSUE: IMAGING IN AORTIC STENOSIS: PART II STATE-OF-THE-ART PAPER Imaging and Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis in Aortic Stenosis a b a c Rong Bing, MBBS, BMEDSCI, João L. Cavalcante, MD, Russell J. Everett, MD, BSC, Marie-Annick Clavel, DVM, PHD, a a David E. Newby, DM, PHD, DSC, Marc R. Dweck, MD, PHD ABSTRACT Aortic stenosis is characterized both by progressive valve narrowing and the left ventricular remodeling response that ensues. The only effective treatment is aortic valve replacement, which is usually recommended in patients with severe stenosis and evidence of left ventricular decompensation. At present, left ventricular decompensation is most frequently identified by the development of typical symptoms or a marked reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. However, there is growing interest in using the assessment of myocardial fibrosis as an earlier and more objective marker of left ventricular decompensation, particularly in asymptomatic patients, where guidelines currently rely on non- randomized data and expert consensus. Myocardial fibrosis has major functional consequences, is the key pathological process driving left ventricular decompensation, and can be divided into 2 categories. Replacement fibrosis is irreversible and identified using late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance, while diffuse fibrosis occurs earlier, is potentially reversible, and can be quantified with cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping techniques. There is a substantial body of observational data in this field, but there is now a need for randomized clinical trials of myocardial imaging in aortic stenosis to optimize patient management.
    [Show full text]
  • Echocardiographic Evaluation of Valvular Stenosis Melissa R
    ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF VALVULAR STENOSIS MELISSA R. CUNDANGAN, MD, FPCP, FPCC, FPSE AORTIC STENOSIS AORTIC STENOSIS • Obstruction to LV outflow • Decrease in aortic valve area • Normal: 3.0 – 4.0 cm2 • Mild : 1.5-2.0 cm2 • Moderate : 1.0 – 1.5 cm2 • Severe: < 1.0 cm2 Valvular Hear Disease, Chapter 63, Braunwarld’s Heart Disease 10th Edition 2014 AORTIC STENOSIS Causes: • Congenital (unicuspal, bicuspal, quadricuspal) • Rheumatic • Calcific/ Degenerative EAE/ASE recommendations for Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis, European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS A. Evaluate the anatomy of the AV RCC DIASTOLE NCC LCC SYSTOLE EAE/ASE recommendations for Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis, European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS fusion of RCC fusion of RCC and NCC and LCC ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS B. Determine the aortic valve area by Continuity Equation EAE/ASE recommendations for Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis, European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS C. Determine the transaortic jet velocity • measured using continuous-wave (CW) Doppler Valvular Hear Disease, Chapter 63, Braunwarld’s Heart Disease 10th Edition 2014 ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS D. Determine the transaortic gradient EAE/ASE recommendations for Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis, European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 ECHO EVALUATION OF AORTIC STENOSIS EAE/ASE recommendations for Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis, European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 • LOW FLOW LOW GRADIENT AORTIC STENOSIS • PARADOXICAL LOW FLOW LOW GRADIENT AORTIC STENOSIS Baseline echo AVA: 0.96 cm2 PIG: 57mmHg MG: 38 mmHg EF 31% PSEUDOSEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS .
    [Show full text]
  • Valve Disease
    The GoToGuide for Valve Disease A helpful resource for patients and caregivers • Valve disease explained • Know the symptoms • Understanding treatment options • Recent FDA approval for expanded use of TAVR • What to expect during treatment Let’s Get Social Stay up to date on heart health and connect with Mended Hearts any time. Find us at www.mendedhearts.org and on these sites: facebook.com/mendedhearts facebook.com/MendedLittleHeartsNationalOrganization @MendedHearts @MLH_CHD Instagram.com/mendedlittleheartsnational The GoToGuide for Valve Disease Valve Disease Explained ..........................2 Know the Symptoms .............................. 8 Understanding Treatment Options ........9 Tools & Resources .................................. 18 Mended Hearts gratefully acknowledges the support of Edwards Lifesciences. mendedhearts.org The GoToGuide for Valve Disease 1 Valve Disease Explained What is Valve Disease? Heart disease is something we’ve all heard about, and for good reason: Right now, it’s the leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 600,000 Americans every year. (That’s about one out of every four people.) One common form of heart disease is valve disease, which occurs when one or more of your heart valves isn’t working properly. Stenosis vs. Your heart has four valves — the tricuspid, Regurgitation pulmonary, mitral and aortic. Each of these When heart valves valves depends upon tissue flaps that open and become too close every time your heart beats. The flaps narrow for blood make sure blood flows in the right direction to pass through through your heart’s four chambers and to the efficiently, this is rest of your body. called stenosis. However, sometimes certain things interfere The narrowing is with how well the heart valves function.
    [Show full text]
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation
    Aortic Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation (Note: before reading the specific defect information and the image associated with it, it will be helpful to review normal heart function.) What is it? The aortic valve is the final door blood goes through as it exits the heart. It opens to let blood out from the left ventricle (the heart’s main pump) into the aorta (the main artery bringing blood throughout the body). Obstruction is called stenosis and leakage of the valve as it closes after each heartbeat is called regurgitation or “insufficiency”. These problems can occur alone or together. What causes it? A normal aortic valve has three leaflets or cusps (tricuspid). About 1 percent of the population is born with a valve that only has two leaflets (bicuspid) and narrows or leaks over time. Another version is a single leaflet valve, which occurs rarely. Genetic factors have been shown to play a role. How does it affect the heart? Some infants are born with severely narrowed aortic valves need early treatment. However, most bicuspid aortic valves work normally for a long time — sometimes a lifetime. In other patients, the valve can become thick and narrowed/obstructed (stenotic) or curled at the edges and leaky (regurgitant or insufficient). When the valve is obstructed the left ventricle pumps at a higher pressure than normal to push the blood through the narrow opening. In response, the heart muscle gets thicker. When the valve primarily leaks, the ventricle has to pump more blood and the ventricle enlarges. How does it affect me? With mild obstruction, patients usually have no symptoms.
    [Show full text]
  • Aortic Stenosis: Diagnosis and Treatment BRIAN H
    Aortic Stenosis: Diagnosis and Treatment BRIAN H. GRIMARD, MD; ROBERT E. SAFFORD, MD, PhD; and ELIZABETH L. BURNS, MD, Mayo Medical School, Jacksonville, Florida Aortic stenosis affects 3% of persons older than 65 years. Although survival in asymptomatic patients is comparable to that in age- and sex-matched control patients, it decreases rapidly after symptoms appear. During the asymptomatic latent period, left ventricular hypertrophy and atrial augmentation of preload compensate for the increase in after- load caused by aortic stenosis. As the disease worsens, these compensatory mechanisms become inadequate, leading to symptoms of heart failure, angina, or syncope. Aortic valve replacement is recommended for most symptomatic patients with evidence of significant aortic stenosis on echocardiography. Watchful waiting is recommended for most asymptomatic patients. However, select patients may also benefit from aortic valve replacement before the onset of symptoms. Surgical valve replacement is the standard of care for patients at low to moderate surgical risk. Trans- catheter aortic valve replacement may be considered in patients at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Patients should be educated about the importance of promptly reporting symptoms to their physicians. In asymptomatic patients, serial Doppler echocardiography is recommended every six to 12 months for severe aortic stenosis, every one to two years for moderate disease, and every three to five years for mild disease. Cardiology referral is recommended for all patients with symptomatic moderate and severe aortic stenosis, those with severe aortic stenosis without apparent symptoms, and those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Medical management of concurrent hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease will lead to optimal outcomes.
    [Show full text]
  • Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation Guidelines Overview
    Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation Guidelines Overview Rick A. Nishimura, MD, MACC, FAHA, Co-Chair† Catherine M. Otto, MD, FACC, FAHA, Co-Chair† Robert O. Bonow, MD, MACC, FAHA† Carlos E. Ruiz, MD, PhD, FACC† Blase A. Carabello, MD, FACC*† Nikolaos J. Skubas, MD, FASE¶ John P. Erwin III, MD, FACC, FAHA‡ Paul Sorajja, MD, FACC, FAHA# Robert A. Guyton, MD, FACC*§ Thoralf M. Sundt III, MD* **†† Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, FACC, FAHA† James D. Thomas, MD, FASE, FACC, FAHA‡‡ 2014 ACC/AHA Valve Guidelines Core Concepts • Valve disease stages • Improved imaging and severity quantitation • Timing of intervention aligned with disease stages • Earlier intervention with trans-catheter options • Valve Disease Centers and Heart Valve Teams • Integrative approach to procedural risk assessment 2014 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease (VHD) Guidelines Definitions of Disease Severity • Patient Symptoms due to valve dysfunction • Valve Leaflet anatomy and pathology • Flow Valve hemodynamics • Ventricle Hypertrophy, dilation, dysfunction AHA/ACC Valve Guidelines Valve Disease Stages Otto and Prendergast. NEJM 2014 2014 ACC/AHA Valve Guidelines Concept of Valve Disease Stages Stage Definition Description A At risk Patients with risk factors for the development of VHD B Progressive Patients with progressive VHD (mild-to-moderate severity and asymptomatic) C Asymptomatic Asymptomatic patients who have reached the criteria severe for severe VHD C1: Asymptomatic patients with severe VHD in whom the left or right ventricle remains compensated C2: Asymptomatic patients
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Aortic Stenosis?
    ANSWERS Cardiovascular Conditions by heart What is Aortic Valve Stenosis? HEALTHY AORTIC VALVE Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve disease problems. It is a progressive disease causing a narrowing of the aortic valve which reduces its ability to fully Closed Open open and close. DISEASED AORTIC VALVE Aortic stenosis, or AS, restricts the blood flowing out of the left ventricle. A narrowed heart valve causes the heart to work harder to pump blood through a smaller opening. Closed Open Who’s at risk for aortic stenosis? Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include: • Aortic stenosis mainly affects people 65 and older due to • Chest pain scarring and calcium buildup on the valve leaflets. Although • Rapid, fluttering heartbeat age-related AS usually begins after age 60, symptoms may • Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath not develop for decades. • Feeling dizzy or light-headed, even fainting • AS may result from having rheumatic fever during childhood. • Difficulty walking short distances • The most common cause of AS in young people is a birth • Swollen ankles or feet defect called a “bicuspid aortic valve.” This is where only two • Difficulty sleeping or needing to sleep sitting up leaflets grow instead of three. • Decline in activity level or reduced ability to do normal • Another cause may be the valve opening not growing activities along with the heart. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the restricted opening. Over time the Infants and children who have AS due to a birth defect defective valve can become stiff and narrow because of may display symptoms such as: calcium buildup.
    [Show full text]
  • Cardiology Abbreviations and Diagnosis AO Clinic=Aortopathy Clinic, UCP Clinic=UCHAMP Clinic, IA Clinic=Inherited Arrhythmia Clinic
    Cardiology Abbreviations and Diagnosis AO Clinic=Aortopathy Clinic, UCP Clinic=UCHAMP Clinic, IA Clinic=Inherited Arrhythmia Clinic Abbreviation Diagnosis Provider/Specialty Ablation EP Clinic Aortic Aneurysm AO Clinic Aortic Dissection AO Clinic AI Aortic Insufficiency ALCAPA Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery AR (AKA AI) Aortic Regurgitation (AKA Aortic Insufficiency) Aortic Root Dilation/Dilatation AS Aortic Stenosis Aortopathy AO Clinic ALTE Apparent Life-Threatening Event UCP Clinic Arrhythmia (Anything except sinus rhythm) Possibly EP Clinic ARVD (AKA ARVC) Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia UCP Clinic AV Atrioventricular ASC AO Ascending Aorta AET Atrial Ectopic Tachycardia EP Clinic A Flutter Atrial Flutter EP Clinic A-Fib Atrial Fibrillation EP-IA Clinic ASD Atrial Septal Defect Atrial Tach Atrial Tachycardia AVB Atrioventricular Block (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree heart block) AVNRT Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia EP Clinic AVSD (AKA: AVC) Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AKA: AV Canal) Beal’s Syndrome (Congenital Contractual AO Clinic Arachnodactyly) BAV Bicuspid Aortic Valve BVH Biventricular Hypertrophy BT Shunt Blalock-Taussig Shunt Bradycardia Possibly EP Clinic Brugada Syndrome EP-IA Clinic Cardiomegaly CLD Chronic Lung Disease PH Clinic CHARGE Syndrome CM Cardiomyopathy UCP Clinic • Adriamycin • Chemotherapy Induced • Dilated (DCM) • Family Hx of • Hypertrophic (HCM or HOCM) • Left Ventricular Non-Compaction (LVNC) • Pacer induced (may also see EP) • Restrictive (RCM) CPVT Catecholaminergic
    [Show full text]
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis (AS) and Aortic Insufficiency (AI)
    Aortic Valve Stenosis (AS) and Aortic Insufficiency (AI) What is it? The aortic valve opens to let blood flow from the main left pumping chamber (left ventricle) to the main body artery (aorta). Stenosis (narrowing or obstruction) of the aortic valve makes the left ventricle pump harder to get blood past the blockage. Insufficiency (also called regurgitation) is when blood that’s just been pumped through the valve leaks backwards into the pumping chamber between heartbeats. Some children can have mostly obstruction; others mostly insufficiency. Some children have a valve with both problems. Aortic stenosis (AS) occurs when the aortic valve didn’t form properly. A normal valve has three parts (leaflets or cusps), but a stenotic valve may have only one cusp (unicuspid) or two cusps (bicuspid), which are thick and stiff, rather than thin and flexible. What causes it? In most children, the cause isn’t known. It’s a common type of heart defect. Some children can have other heart defects along with AS. How does it affect the heart? In a child with AS, the pressure is much higher than normal in the left pumping chamber (left ventricle) and the heart must work harder to pump blood out into the body arteries. Over time this can cause thickening (hypertrophy) and damage to the overworked heart muscle. In a child with AS, the heart also works harder to pump the normal amount of blood required by the body, and also all the blood that has leaked back into the left ventricle through the valve in between heartbeats.
    [Show full text]