AORTIC STENOSIS

Friday, January 27, 2012

Most cases are due to rheumatic fever and some to syphilitic artistes. Occasional cases are due to bacterial endocarditic or trauma. Functional incompetence may be secondary to hypertension or thermo of the aorta. Surgical treatment has recently been introduced but its value is not yet established. Some cases are due to rheumatic fever, usually in association with other valvular lesions. Aortic stenosis with calcification of the valve often occurs as an isolated lesion in elderly males commonly in association with a congenital bicuspid valve. The clinical features will depend on the degree of narrowing and the presence or absence of other valvular lesion. In recent years it has been realized that mild cases of stenosis are relatively frequent but often unrecognized. In the compensated phase symptoms may be entirely absent. When left ventricular failure occurs its symptoms and signs are similar to those occurring in aortic incompetence. The degree of ventricular hypertrophy is usually greater. In addition, faintness and dizziness, syncope, angina pain, heart block and sudden death all tend to be associated. Such symptoms are probably due to myocardial or cerebral ischemia.