Aortic StenosisNancy McDaniel M.D.The heart in this defect has four chambers and four valves. The problem here is that the valve leading to the body -- the aortic valve -- is too small, too thick or the valve does not open completely. This causes the main pumping chamber of the heart -- the left ventricle -- to have to work harder than normal to push the blood out to the body. Mild levels of narrowing are handled very well but severe blockage of the valve would need surgery to relieve the narrowing. The narrowing is usually at the valve but can sometimes be below the valve (subvalvular) or above the valve (supravalvular).
 Stenosis may also be supravalvular or subvalvular. Normal Heart  |