Aortic valve stenosis

• aortic valve is often dysplastic (unicuspid or bicuspid)

• ascending aorta is hypoplastic because there is not much flow. there can even be retrograde flow from the ductus arteriosus back into the aorta

• left ventricle may be hypertrophied or left ventricle may be hypoplastic

• mitral valve often hypoplastic or dysplastic

• endocardial fibroelastosis may be present, reducing LV compliance

• high mortality even with surgery

diagram of aortic valve stenosis

• this is isolated aortic valve stenosis

• the left ventricle has hypertrophied

• there is a consequent reduction in systemic blood flow

gross specimen: unicuspid aortic valve with stenosis

• there is just a pinpoint hole in the valve

hypoplastic left heart syndrome

• this is ultimate atresia/hypoplasia of the left heart

• mortality rate is still very high despite advances in surgery

• the baby looks really normal at the time of delivery but “chrrrrrrr…just crashes and burns on the 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th day of life”

• the ascending aorta is a thread compared to the pulmonary artery

• blood flow out of the right ventricle goes through pulmonary artery, through the ductus arteriosus, and then flows, retrograde, down through the ascending aorta

Category: Pathology Notes