Aortic stenosis
In aortic stenosis,
left ventricular outflow is reduced and a pressure load on the left ventricle
is imposed by the significant narrowing of the aortic valve. A harsh mid-systolic
murmur is usually heard maximally over the aortic area and it frequently
extends to the carotid arteries as well. Causes include degenerative calcific
aortic stenosis (usually in elderly patients), calcification usually on
a congenital bicuspid valve and rheumatic heart disease.
Aortic
stenosis in real audio format
Aortic regurgitation
Aortic regurgitation
is caused by an incompetent aortic valve that allows regurgitation of blood
from the aorta into the left ventricle as long as the aortic diastolic
pressure exceeds the left ventricular diastolic pressure. The murmur is
usually high-pitched and tends to merge into S2 - as in this case. Aortic
regurgitation may be acute or chronic. Acute aortic regurgitation may be
due to infective endocarditis or aortic root dilatation due to Marfan's
syndrome, aortic aneurysm or hypertension. Chronic aortic regurgitation
can be due to valvular causes such as rheumatic heart disease, congenital
(bicuspid valve or ventricular septal defect) or seronegative arthropathy
(especially ankylosing spondylitis) or aortic root dilatation due to Marfan's
syndrome, aortitis (syphilis, Marfan's syndrome, seronegative arthropathies,
rheumatoid arthritis, etc) or aortic aneurysm.
Aortic
regurgitation in wav format
Aortic
regurgitation in real audio format
Coarctation of
the Aorta
This is a congenital
narrowing of the aorta just distal to the origin of the left subclavian
artery. The etiology appears related to the abnormal position of tissues
involved in closure of the ductus arteriosus. It is also associated with
Turner's syndrome and the bicuspid aortic valve.
Coarctation
of the Aorta in wav format
Coarctation
of the Aorta in real audio format
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