Cardiology - Valve Stenosis Flashcards
What is coarctation of the aorta?
Narrowing of the aortic arch around the ductus arteriosus
What genetic condition is coarctation of the aorta associated with?
Turners syndrome
What happens to blood pressure in aortic coarctation?
Distal to the narrowing = pressure is decreased
Proximal to narrowing = pressure is increased
How does coarctation of the aorta present?
- Weak femoral pulses
- Systolic murmur below left clavicle and below left scapula
- Tachypnoea
- Poor feeding
- Grey and floppy baby
After a period of time due to development
- LV heave, due to hypertrophy
- Underdeveloped left arm where there is reduced blood flow to left subclavian
- Underdevelopment of legs
What can be done to identify coarctation of the aorta?
Four limb blood pressure
High blood pressure in limbs before narrowing
Low in limbs after narrowing
How is coarctation of the aorta managed?
Mild cases are symptom free until adulthood
Severe cases needed emergency surgery after birth
Critical cases
- Risk of heart failure and death
- Prostaglandin E used to keep ductus arteriosus open while waiting for surgery
- Surgery then performed to correct coarctation and ligate ductus arteriosus
What are the aortic valve leaflets called?
Aortic sinuses of Valsalva
Patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis can have 1,2,3 or 4 leaflets instead of the usual 3
How does aortic valve stenosis present?
Mild
Asymptomatic
Discovered as incidental murmur during routine examination
Significant
Symptoms of fatigue
SOB
Dizziness and fainting
Symptoms are worse on exertion as outflow from LV cannot keep up with demand
How does severe aortic stenosis present months after birth?
Heart failure
What are the signs of aortic stenosis?
- Ejection systolic murmur heard best at the aortic area, crescendo-decrescendo character that radiates to carotids
- Ejection click just before murmur
- Palpable thrill during systole
- Slow rising pulse
- Narrow pulse pressure
What investigations are used for aortic stenosis?
Gold standard
Echocardiogram
ECGs
Exercise testing
(to monitor progression of the condition)
How is aortic stenosis treated?
Percutaneous balloon aortic valvopalsty
Surgical aortic valvotomy
Valve replacement
What are the complications of aortic stenosis?
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Heart failure
Ventricular arrhythmia
Bacterial endocarditis
Sudden death, on exertion
What happens in congenital pulmonary valve stenosis?
Valve leaflets develop abnormally, becoming thickened or fused
Causes narrow pulmonary valve
What is congenital pulmonary valve stenosis associated with?
Tetralogy of Fallot
William syndrome
Noonan syndrome
Congenital rubella syndrome
How does pulmonary stenosis present?
Often completely asymptomatic, discovered incidentally as a murmur on routine baby checks
More signicant
- Fatigue on exertion
- SOB
- Dizziness and fainting
What are the signs of pulmonary stenosis?
Ejection systolic murmur heard best at the pulmonary area
Palpable thrill in the pulmonary area
RV heave due to RVht
Raised JVP with giant a waves
What investigations are used for pulmonary valve stenosis?
Gold standard
Echocardiogram
How are patients with pulmonary valve stenosis managed?
Mild- Watchful waiting
Symptomatic or more significantly stenosed
- Balloon valvuloplasty via venous catheter
- Open-heart surgery (second line)