1 - narrowed aortic valve
Flow patterns are normal but blood flow to the aorta is reduced as indicated by the broken white arrows.

Aortic valve is the one guarding the outflow tract of left sided pumping chamber. It has three cusps and abnormality of the cusps lead to valve Stenosis. When there are two cusps (Bicuspid it produces turbulence and later calcification and obstruction). It happens mostly in adult hood. However a child can also present with severe obstruction of aortic valve (monocuspid or bicuspid). When aortic valve is narrowed the left sided ventricle has to pump harder to force blood through the valve. It may lead to heart failure.

• Chest pain

• Syncopal attack

• Heart failure – tiredness and difficulty in breathing

Patient with mild stenosis will need to be observed. However severe Stenosis needs to be tackled by either Balloon Valvuloplasty or open valvotomy (open heart procedure). When valve replacement is required usually autograft is preferred (Ross Procedure). In this procedure Aortic Valve is replaced with Pulmonary valve and Pulmonary valve with a homograft (obtained from Cadaver).