Aortic Stenosis - Thickened valve

Thickened and stenosed aortic valve seen in parasternal long axis view on echocardiography. Both the mitral and aortic valves are in near closed position. IVS: interventricular septum; Ao V: aortic valve; LV: left ventricle; MV: mitral valve; LA: left atrium.

Aortic stenosis after balloon aortic valvotomy

Systolic frame from an echocardiogram of aortic valve in parasternal long axis view showing restricted opening of the aortic leaflets. Upper leaflet is grossly thickened. Mitral valve is in closed position. RV: right ventricle. The echocardiogram was obtained after palliative balloon aortic valvotomy prior to aortic valve replacement in a case of severe aortic stenosis with heart failure, at high risk for open heart surgery. The balloon aortic valvotomy procedure was demonstrated in a previous post. The parasternal long axis view of the open position of the aortic valve before balloon aortic valvotomy is given below.

Aortic valve in open position. Leaflets are thickened