There are as many stenoses as there are organs in the human body. The stenosis can be aortic, arterial, cervical, carotid, peptic, pulmonary … If their symptoms and causes are just as different, there are however ways to treat this pathology.
A stenosis corresponds to a permanent narrowing of the caliber of a channel or a blood vessel. This narrowing is pathological. It can be congenital Or acquired. There are several types of stenosis depending on the channel or the affected vessel:
- Aortic stenosis (aorta),
- stenosis of the vertebral canal (causing pain in the lower back),
- stenosis of the renal artery (caused by a hormonal imbalance),
- pylore stenosis (intestinal disease that affects infants),
- Stenosis and pulmonary atresia (right ventricle of the heart), mitral stenosis (left ventricle of the heart),
- peptic stenosis of the esophagus …
- coronary stenosis,
- carotid stenosis,
- arterial stenosis,
- Aortic stenosis that mainly affects the elderly subject.
“”Coronary, carotid and arterial stenoses are part of theatherosclerosis. This disease generated by a deposit of fat and calcium will obstruct the arteries whether at the level of the heart, carotids or axes of the leg which can cause occlusions (or complete closure of the artery)“Explains Dr. Patrick Assyag, cardiologist and vice-president of the French Cardiology Federation.
Stenons linked to the heart
Symptoms will differ according to The location of stenosis. For example, “The main symptom of coronary stenosis is theMyocardial infarction Classically represented by thoracic pain irradiating in the jaws and the left arm, sometimes a much more atypical symptomatology, frequently in women represented by symptoms which can make the diagnosis“, Specifies Dr Assyag. carotid stenosis “”Will be assessed according to the symptomatology which can be represented by a weakness in a hemicorps, loss of transitional vision at the level of an eye, the deformation of the mouth, difficulty speaking in a transitory way. For aortic stenosissymptoms can be syncope, angina, abnormal shortness of breath. It is sometimes asymptomatic, discovered during an echocardiography-doppler“.
Stenoses not linked to the heart
Regarding Stenons not linked to the heartsymptoms also differ. For the renal artery stenosis, one of the main symptoms is High blood pressure. If there peptic stenosis From the esophagus, the patient will observe difficulty swallowing, as if the bite stagnated at the throat.
Pylorus stenosis
In infants, The stenosis of pylorus induces abundant and regular vomiting after each bottle.
Depending on the location of stenosis, there are different causes. For coronary stenosis, the cause is atherosclerosis while for the peptic stenosis of the esophagus, it is most often the complication of gastroesophageal reflux severe or poorly treated esophagitis. Note that the origin of the pylore stenosis is not well known: genetic and hereditary factors are often highlighted.
After consulting his attending physician, the patient will be oriented towards a specialist according to the type of stenosis. Again, to make the diagnosis, the doctor will use different tools depending on the location. But ultrasounds will be recommended for most stenosis. Other examinations can be practiced: blood test, fibroscopy and endoscopy, radiography… Without forgetting clinical examination.
It will be possible to leave the stenosis as it is if it does not put the life of the patient in danger and do not The inconvenience not in his daily life. If necessary, treatments exist, and in particular surgical techniques. For heart muscle stenosis, “Classic treatment is based on angioplasty with stent or surgical puncture. For aortic stenosis, the treatment consists in the establishment of a prosthesis by transcutaneous or surgical route“, Specifies Dr Assyag, who adds that drug treatments can be implemented.
Thank you to Dr Patrick Assyag, cardiologist and vice-president of the French Cardiology Federation.
