Aortic Stenosis

Most children with aortic stenosis do not have any symptoms. They may have no noticeable problems unless the stenosis gets worse.

If children do have symptoms, they may include: 

• Feeling short of breath when active
• Having pain, pressure or tightness in their chest
• Fainting or feeling weak or dizzy when active
• Having palpitations

Babies born with severe aortic stenosis may have these symptoms:

• Working hard to breathe
• Poor appetite or trouble feeding
• Poor weight gain or slow growth (failure to thrive)

They may also show signs of shock because their heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of their body (cardiogenic shock). Signs include: 

• Fussiness
• Poor feeding
• Rapid breathing
• Lack of energy (lethargy)
• Less frequent peeing
• Increased heart rate
• Mottled skin

If a baby in the womb has aortic stenosis, doctors may be able to diagnose it using a fetal echocardiogram (fetal echo). This is a special ultrasound that uses sound waves to view and make pictures of a developing baby’s heart during pregnancy. The results are interpreted by a pediatric heart doctor (cardiologist) who specializes in fetal congenital heart disease.

Your obstetrician may refer you for a fetal echo if your family has a history of congenital heart disease or if a routine prenatal ultrasound shows a problem.

Seattle Children’s Fetal Care and Treatment Center team can care for you when you are pregnant if your developing baby has a known or suspected problem. 

To diagnose this condition, your child’s doctor will examine your child, use a stethoscope to listen to their heart and check their blood pressure. Sometimes, doctors find aortic stenosis after hearing a heart murmur in a child who appears well.

The doctor will ask for details about any symptoms your child has, their health history and your family health history.

If your child has aortic stenosis, they will need an echocardiogram to check the stenosis and to see how their heart works.

Your child may need other tests that provide more information about their heart. These include: 

• ECG or EKG (electrocardiogram)
• Chest X-rays
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the heart
• Cardiac catheterization

• The Heart Center team includes more than 40 pediatric cardiologists who diagnose and treat every kind of heart problem. We have treated many children with aortic stenosis.
• Our doctors and surgeons are experts in the treatments your child may need, including cardiac catheterization or surgery. 
• We also have a pediatric cardiac anesthesia team and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for children who need them. General anesthesia is a medicine we give to people before surgery so they are fully asleep during the procedure.
• Your child’s team includes other experts from Seattle Children’s based on their needs, like neonatologists and pulmonologists.

• If your developing baby is diagnosed with aortic stenosis before birth, Seattle Children’s Fetal Care and Treatment Center team works closely with you and your family to plan and prepare for any care your baby may need.
• Your child’s treatment plan is custom-made. We plan and carry out their treatment based on the specific details of their heart condition. We closely check your child’s needs to make sure they get the care that is right for them at every age.
• We have a special Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program to meet your child’s long-term healthcare needs. This program, shared with the University of Washington, transitions your child to adult care when they are ready.

• We are committed to your child’s overall health and well-being and to helping your child live a full and active life.
• Whatever types of care your child needs, we will help your family through this experience. We will discuss your child’s condition and treatment options in ways you understand and involve you in every decision.
• Our Child Life specialists know how to help children understand their illnesses and treatments in ways that make sense for their age.
• Seattle Children’s has many resources, from financial to spiritual, to support your child and your family and make your experience as smooth as possible.
• Many children and families travel to Seattle Children’s for heart surgery or other care. We help you coordinate travel and housing so you can stay focused on your child.
• Read more about the supportive care we offer.