Treatment:

If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, you may only need to be monitored by a health care provider. If symptoms are moderate to severe, you may need to stay in the hospital. Infants and children may need immediate surgery.

Patients with aortic stenosis are usually told not to play competetive sports, even if they don't have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, strenuous activity must be limited.

Patients who have breathing problems, fainting spells, or chest pain or pressure with activity, should see a cardiologist every 3 to 6 months.

Drugs used to help control symptoms include digoxin and diuretics ("water pills").

Surgery to repair or replace the valve is the preferred treatment for adults or children who have symptoms. Even if symptoms are not very bad, the doctor may recommend surgery. Some high-risk patients are poor candidates for heart valve surgery.

A less invasive procedure called balloon valvuloplasty may be done in adults or children instead. This is a procedure in which a balloon is placed into an artery in the groin, advanced to the heart, placed across the valve, and inflated. This may relieve the obstruction caused by the narrowed valve.

Infants and children may have various forms of surgery. If the diagnosis is isolated aortic stenosis, the pulmonary valve may be used to replace the aortic valve.

Expectations (prognosis):

Aortic stenosis can be cured with surgery, although there may be a continued risk for irregular heart rhythms, which can sometimes cause sudden death. The person may be symptom-free until complications develop. Without surgery, a patient who has signs of angina or heart failure may do poorly.

Persons with aortic stenosis, particularly moderate and severe forms, should not participate in strenuous activities, such as competitive sports.

Complications:

• Left ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement) caused by the extra work of pushing blood through the narrowed valve
• Left-sided heart failure
• Arrhythmias
• Endocarditis

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you or your child have symptoms of aortic stenosis. For example, call if you or your child have a sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations) for more than a short period of time.

Also contact your doctor if you have been diagnosed with this condition and your symptoms get worse or new ones develop.