Aortic Stenosis in Children
Supporting Your Child’s Journey with Aortic Stenosis
The heart has four valves that help blood flow to the lungs and the rest of the body. Aortic stenosis occurs when one of the heart’s four valves, the aortic valve, narrows and does not open fully. This narrowing restricts blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and then to the rest of your body.
To push blood through this narrowed valve opening, the left ventricle has to work much harder. Over time, this extra effort can cause the heart muscle to thicken and eventually weaken, potentially leading to serious complications, including heart failure.
Aortic stenosis is more common in older adults, but about 3% to 6% of all children born with heart problems have aortic stenosis. Living with aortic stenosis requires ongoing medical care and monitoring. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve your child’s quality of life and allow them to engage in activities without interruptions.
Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis
Symptoms depend on the severity of the narrowing and your child’s age. Mild narrowing of the aortic valve may not cause any symptoms. If the narrowing is severe, symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
Infants with severe aortic valve stenosis may have:
- Difficulty breathing
- Irritability
- Pale or gray color to the skin
- Poor food intake
- Sweating while eating
What Causes Aortic Stenosis in Children?
A congenital heart defect called bicuspid aortic valve is the most common cause of aortic stenosis in children. In a healthy aortic valve, there are three small flaps that open and close. With a bicuspid aortic valve, a baby is born with only two flaps, making the heart work harder.
Diagnosing Aortic Stenosis
During a physical exam, your child’s doctor may hear a heart murmur, a whooshing sound, which can be a sign of abnormal blood flow through the valve.
To confirm an aortic stenosis diagnosis, the doctor may order these tests:
- Cardiac catheterization: This procedure can measure pressures within your child’s heart and evaluate the severity of the stenosis if other tests are unclear.
- Cardiac CT scan or MRI: These imaging tests provide more detailed pictures of the heart and aorta, helping to assess the valve and surrounding structures.
- Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your child’s heart, showing how blood flows through the heart chambers and valves. It can measure how much the heart is narrowing and how well the heart is pumping.
What is the Treatment for Aortic Stenosis?
For mild cases without symptoms, regular monitoring with echocardiograms may be sufficient. However, once symptoms develop or the narrowing becomes severe, treatment for aortic stenosis is necessary.
Treatments include:
Aortic valve replacement
This is one of the most common treatments for aortic stenosis and involves replacing the damaged valve with a new valve, which can be made from synthetic material or from human or animal tissue.
Balloon valvuloplasty
During this procedure, a balloon is placed in the valve and inflated to keep the valve open.
Find care for pediatric aortic stenosis
Children with aortic stenosis can lead thriving lives when they have the right care.