Aortic Valve Stenosis

What is Aortic Valve Stenosis?

Aortic valve stenosis is when the aortic valve opening is closed and blood flow is blocked. This condition, also called aortic stenosis, causes the heart to work more strongly. If the heart beats more strongly than it should, it causes thickening of the wall muscles in the left main pumping focus of the heart. The narrowing of the valve also reduces the amount of blood flow to the main artery.

Symptoms of Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis is usually asymptomatic. This is why it is discovered during routine examinations. Aortic valve narrowing causes symptoms only once and only as it progresses. If the disease has reached the symptomatic stage, there is a severe narrowing. If the disease is symptomatic, patients experience the following symptoms:

• Fainting
• Absence of energy,
• Pain in the chest during exertion,
• Breathing difficulties,
• Weak pulse,
• Atrial ventricular fibrillation,
• Cardiomegaly,
• Heart palpitations or abnormal rhythm,
• Heart murmur

Aortic valve stenosis in infants and children has different symptoms. These symptoms include easy fatigue, not eating well and not losing weight. In severe cases, babies have significant breathing difficulties. In babies with mild cases, the condition can become serious as they grow older.

Grades of aortic valve stenosis

In adults, the aortic valve area is 3 to 4 cm. For hemodynamic symptoms to be seen, this area needs to be reduced to approximately one quarter.

Grade 1 Light

First-degree aortic valve stenosis is usually asymptomatic and does not require any treatment. These patients remain under surveillance.

Grade 2 Medium

At this stage, some symptoms start to appear. However, patients are still monitored without treatment.

Grade 3 Serious

Third degree aortic valve stenosis presents the most serious clinical picture. Serious health problems arise and surgical intervention is required.

Causes of Aortic Valve Stenosis

The most common cause of aortic valve stenosis is calcium deposits in the heart valve. The cause of calcium accumulation is atherosclerosis. In addition, aortic valve stenosis can also be caused by congenital abnormalities.

Other causes of aortic valve stenosis are;

• Degenerative diseases,
• Mönckeberg disease
• Bicuspid aorta
• Acute joint rheumatism,
• Paget's disease,
• Chronic renal failure,
• Xanthomatous tendinal hypercholesterolemia occurs.

Genetics

Aortic valve stenosis is a disease that can be present from birth. If this happens, the aortic valves are irregularly formed. Children born with aortic valve stenosis usually have the following irregularities:

• The brooches are thick enough not to open and close completely,
• Brooches cannot be separated properly,
• Absence of all three brochures,

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever, one of the most common causes of heart valve problems, also causes aortic valve stenosis. Caused by Streptococcus bacteria, this disease is also contagious.

Calcification of Valves

Aortic valve stenosis is most common in older adults. Calcification from aortic valve scars usually starts after the age of 60 and the effects are seen between the ages of 70 and 80.

Risk Factors Affecting Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis is more common in certain risk groups.

Gender

In men between 30 and 60 years of age, aortic valve stenosis is more common.

Genetics

It is more common in children with malformed or less than three leaflets.

Disease

Rheumatic fever can cause significant problems with heart valves. The damage caused by the disease includes damage to coronary arteries, valves and heart tissue.

How is Aortic Valve Stenosis Diagnosed?

Chest X-rays, electrocardiography and echocardiography are used to diagnose aortic valve stenosis. Cardiac catheterization is used to determine the degree of stenosis.

MRI

Aortic valve stenosis can be clearly visualized with MRI, which provides detailed imaging of internal body structures.

CT Scan

This method, in which cross-sectional images of the internal structures of the body are obtained, is also used in the diagnosis of the disease.

Lung X-ray

Images of the heart, lungs, respiratory tract, bones and vessels are taken to support the diagnosis.

Echocardiogram

It is a method that allows video images of the heart to be taken.

Cardiac Catheterization

is a diagnostic method using a special dye to identify blockages in the heart.

Aortic Valve Stenosis Treatment

Aortic valve stenosis can be treated with surgery. Some patients undergo surgery to widen the narrowing, while others undergo heart valve replacement. In addition, medication can be used depending on the cause of the disease.

Drug Treatments

Although the medications used in aortic valve stenosis do not cure the disease, they help to reduce the symptoms experienced by patients. The first group of medicines used are antibiotics. It is used to stop the progression of rheumatic fever and infections.

Blood pressure medications are medicines used to lower blood pressure. Some patients may require blood thinners. Finally, anti-rhythmic drugs are used to regulate heart rhythms.

Aortic Valve Stenosis Surgery

Various methods are used to treat the damaged valve. The minimally invasive method used is called valvuloplasty. In this technique, it is done with a soft and thin tube called a catheter. The procedure is performed by entering the main artery in the groin. A catheter with a balloon at the tip is advanced to the heart, where the balloon is inflated. After the valve is opened, the catheter is removed.

If the damaged valve needs to be removed, then open heart surgery is performed. In this surgery, patients' damaged valves are replaced with a mechanical or pig-derived valve. The recovery period is extremely long.

Long-term effects of treatment

Treatments for aortic valve stenosis are highly successful. For this reason, the general health of patients improves significantly in the long term.

Lifestyle Changes in Aortic Valve Stenosis

If aortic valve stenosis is not a congenital condition, then some lifestyle changes can reduce the burden on the heart and make you healthier. Here are the changes that patients need to go through for this.

• Exercise regularly,
• Following a diet low in saturated fat,
• Staying away from cigarettes,
• Being at an ideal weight,
• To ensure oral hygiene,