Aortic stenosis

aortic stenosis

n. Abbr. AS

Pathological narrowing of the orifice of the aortic valve.

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Aortic stenosis

A stiffening of the artery which carries blood from the heart to the body.

Mentioned in: Ventricular Ectopic Beats

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aortic stenosis Cardiology Narrowing of the aortic annulus caused by degeneration and calcification of the valve leaflets; AS is more common and occurs earlier in Pts with underlying valve defects–eg, bicuspid valves; AS in previously normal valves develops after age 60 and is associated with HTN and hypercholesterolemia Etiology Rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, idiopathic sclerosis Clinical Angina, syncope, CHF Hemodynamics Chronic stenosis leads to LV enlargement, CHF Examination Systolic ejection murmur radiating to the neck; in mild stenosis, the murmur peaks early in systole and is often associated with a thrill; with ↑ severity the murmur peaks progressively later in systole, and may become softer as cardiac output ↓ Diagnosis Doppler echocardiography indicates ↑ flow rates and ↓ total flow; catheterization, coronary angiography Management If asymptomatic, none needed except for prophylactic antibiotics to cover for infective endocarditis; valve replacement surgery; balloon valvotomy is only palliative. Cf Aortic regurgitation, Pulmonary stenosis.