Understanding severe aortic stenosis

Understanding severe aortic stenosis

What is severe aortic stenosis?

Your aortic valve controls the flow of blood through your heart. The valve is made of three flaps of tissue, called leaflets, that swing open when blood pushes against them. When these leaflets stiffen and lose their flexibility, they no longer fully open or close properly. This results in a narrowing (stenosis) of the valve opening.

This narrowing reduces and restricts blood flow, requiring your heart to work harder. As a result, less oxygen-rich blood flows from your lungs to the brain and the rest of your body.

Severe aortic stenosis is an age-related, progressive disease. It is sometimes caused by a congenital heart defect, rheumatic fever, or radiation therapy. But the most common cause is the gradual buildup of calcium (mineral deposits) on the leaflets of the aortic valve. Your doctor may prescribe medications to ease the symptoms of your severe aortic stenosis. However, if the diseased valve is not replaced, your symptoms will worsen, possibly leading to heart failure and even death.1-3

Download the Aortic Stenosis and TAVR guide here

About severe aortic stenosis and treatment options

This animated video will help you better understand what severe aortic stenosis is and how it impacts your health. Two possible valve replacement treatment options are explained. The choice is up to you and your medical team.

Watch the video


 

What are the symptoms of severe aortic stenosis?

In its mildest form, severe aortic stenosis typically doesn't have any symptoms.

But as the condition progresses, and the burden on the heart to pump blood through the narrow valves increases, so does the list of tell-tale signs:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
  • Difficulty when exercising or completing day-to-day activities

If you have these symptoms, it’s possible your severe aortic stenosis has reached a life-threatening stage.

Frequently asked questions about severe aortic stenosis

Treatment options for severe aortic stenosis

The only effective treatment for severe aortic stenosis is replacement of the aortic valve. There are two possible ways to replace the valve.

Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) procedure

Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) procedure

Performed through open-heart surgery, a surgeon will replace the diseased aortic valve with an artificial valve. During the operation, your heart is stopped and a heart-lung machine temporarily takes over the function of pumping blood through your body.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure

This less-invasive procedure replaces the aortic valve without opening your chest to reach your heart. Patients who undergo a TAVR procedure typically have an easier time recovering and experience less discomfort.

An artificial valve is compressed onto a catheter that travels through a hollow tube to your heart. Your doctor will expand the replacement valve, pushing the diseased parts of the aortic valve out of the way.

Learn more about the TAVR procedure


 

Minimize the risk of stroke during the TAVR procedure with Cerebral embolic protection

During an aortic valve replacement procedure, pieces of the calcified heart valve, or tissue can break loose and travel in the blood stream toward the brain.

This material may cause a stroke, by blocking blood flow to the brain. To help protect patients from the risk of a stroke during TAVR, medical centers are beginning to offer Protected TAVRTM using a Cerebral Protection System (CPS).

Learn more about Protected TAVR
Cerebral embolic protection
Patient guide to severe aortic stenosis

Learn more about your treatment options and aortic stenosis.

Download the guide
Resources

Find frequently asked questions, helpful checklists, informational brochures, and other resources to help you navigate your diagnosis and next steps.

Explore all resources

 

 


Illustrations for information purposes – not indicative of actual size or clinical outcome.

  1. Bach D, Radeva J, Birnbaum H, et al. Prevalence, Referral Patterns, Testing, and Surgery in Aortic Valve Disease: Leaving Women and Elderly Patients Behind. J Heart Valve Disease. 2007:362-9.
  2. Iivanainen A, Lindroos M, Tilvis R, et al. Natural History of Aortic Valve Stenosis of Varying Severity in the Elderly. Am J Cardiol. 1996:97-101.
  3. Aronow W, Ahn C, Kronzon I. Comparison of Echocardiographic Abnormalities in African-American, Hispanic, and White Men and Women Aged >60 Years. Am J Cardiol. 2001:1131-3.
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5317356/


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