How is aortic stenosis treated?

Surgery vs Meds: Initially aortic stenosis (as) is treated with medications, but when the heart begins failing due to it as well as a few other parameters, it is time to think about surgical valve replacement. This can be done either as a traditional open heart operation or in some cases now percutaneously without having an incision.

Aortic stenosis: If critical, then aortic valve replacement.

Age dependent?: Infants with aortic valve stenosis go to the pediatric cath lab for balloon dilation of the valve. The balloons are small, shaped like a hotdog, are positioned across the stenotic valve then quickly inflated and deflated to open the valve. A second procedure we do for kids is called the "ross procedure" where a patient's pulmonary valve is moved to the aortic and a graft replaces the pulm valve.