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PANCE® is a registered trademark of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). This application is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the NCCPA.

For educational use only. Content is AI-generated, may contain errors, and is not medical advice — always verify against current primary sources and faculty guidance before clinical use.

HomeCardiovascularAortic Stenosis
🫀

Aortic Stenosis

Cardiovascular · ~11% of blueprint
🔬Pathophysiology
Progressive valve calcification/fibrosis (or congenital bicuspid valve) → ↓ valve area → LV outflow obstruction → pressure-overload LVH.
🩺Signs & Symptoms
Triad: Angina, Syncope, Dyspnea (exertional). Harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur at R 2nd ICS radiating to carotids; pulsus parvus et tardus.
🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
Echocardiography (valve area, mean gradient, EF). Severe: area ≤1.0 cm², mean gradient ≥40 mmHg, Vmax ≥4 m/s.
💊First-line Treatment
Valve replacement (SAVR or TAVR) once symptomatic or severe with ↓EF. No medical therapy halts progression; avoid aggressive afterload reduction/diuresis.
High-Yield Pearl

Symptom onset (angina → syncope → HF) marks a sharp drop in survival → refer for replacement. Bicuspid valve = AS in younger patients.

Sources

Reviewed September 2026
  1. 2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease — ACC/AHA, 2020
  2. StatPearls: Aortic Stenosis — NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls, 2025
  3. StatPearls: Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement — NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls, 2025

Checked against the guideline or standard reference the exam keys to. If it has moved, use Report an error below.

More Cardiovascular conditions

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome (STEMI)
  • Acute Pericarditis
  • Aortic Dissection
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Heart Failure (HFrEF)
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Hypertension (Essential)
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Infective Endocarditis
  • Mitral Regurgitation
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
All Cardiovascular