Subaortic Stenosis
Subaortic stenosis refers to an obstruction or narrowing at the outlet of the left ventricle just below the aortic valve. In typical subaortic stenosis, the aortic valve itself is normal. In the normal heart, there are two sides, and each side has a pumping chamber, called a "ventricle". The unoxygenated blood comes back from the body to the right side of the heart, where it collects in the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps this blood through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it collects more oxygen. The blood, now full of oxygen, returns to the left side of the heart and the left ventricle, where it is pumped through the left ventricle's outflow tract to the aortic valve and out to the body through the aorta. In a heart with subaortic stenosis, it is difficult for the left ventricle to pump the blood out to the body because of this narrowed area in the outflow tract. Subaortic stenosis causes two main problems for the heart:
Surgery for Subaortic Stenosis The subaortic stenosis is fixed by opening the aorta just above the aortic valve. The subaortic membrane can be seen through the valve. The membrane can then be cut out, leaving the left ventricle's outflow tract open and smooth. This operation is called a subaortic resection. |