An Aortic Ultrasound is an invaluable diagnostic test used to monitor how blood is flowing at an appropriate pace and level. Ultrasounds also detect thyroid disorders, breast cysts/cancer, and other gynecologic issues that might otherwise remain undetected.
This study investigates the pulmonary artery/aorta (PA/AO) ratio as an easy screening tool for congenital heart disease (CHD), comparing image segmentation by manual and automated methods.
Aortic Valve
The aortic valve is one of the four heart valves responsible for ensuring blood flows only one direction between your heart and the rest of your body. Normally tricuspid with three leaflets, it may congenitally become bicuspid in about 1% of populations. It lies between your left ventricle, known as its pumping chamber, and your main arterial supply called the aorta, the main blood vessel carrying blood to all parts of your body.
The aortic valve has the vital role of preventing backflow from the left ventricle into the pulmonary aorta when heart pumping action ceases, thus protecting blood from flowing back into its proper pathway and into ventricular diastole. To do so, its opening and closing action allows blood to flow in one direction but keeps it out during diastole.
As part of this process, the aortic valve adapts its shape and stiffness over time to optimise stress distribution across its surface. The ability of living biological structures to adapt and respond to external forces over time is central to health.
Aortic valve biomechanics are complex and rely on various biological mechanisms. For instance, under conditions of high shear stress endothelial cells release vasodilator nitric oxide through differential activation of type III nitric oxide synthase (NOS).
Nitric oxide has a profound impact on aortic valve function. It increases fluidity of aortic walls and decreases resistance to blood flow, making systole easier for heart muscle pumping more quickly during systole. Furthermore, nitric oxide helps maintain the shape of valves by protecting against high shear stress conditions that could otherwise cause them to calcify under these circumstances.
Aortic stenosis occurs when an aortic valve becomes narrowed or leaks, forcing the heart to work harder than usual to push blood through its small opening, eventually leading to symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue after exercise, swelling in ankles or feet and sensations of an irregular heartbeat or pounding feeling in your heartbeat. Left untreated it may eventually result in heart failure and ultimately lead to death.
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. An aneurysm develops when part of the artery wall weakens, causing it to abnormally expand in that spot. An aneurysm can be dangerous or even life-threatening if it ruptures. A ruptured aneurysm causes internal bleeding and can cause brain damage or death. An aneurysm may also burst on its own without warning. If it does, you’ll have severe pain in your chest, abdomen or back.
Some conditions can make you more likely to have an aneurysm. You may have a genetic predisposition to them, and you can also get them from smoking or from certain inflammatory diseases. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, can also contribute to aneurysms by weakening the walls of your aorta and causing them to enlarge.
There are many different types of aneurysms. They include:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): This type of aneurysm forms where your aorta goes through your belly. It is the most common type of aortic aneurysm. It is four to six times more common in males than in females.
Thoracic aortic aneurysm: This aneurysm occurs in the upper portion of your aorta, in your chest. It is less common than AAAs.
Carotid aneurysm: This aneurysm forms in your carotid arteries, which carry blood to your neck and face. It is very rare.
Popliteal aneurysm: This aneurysm develops in the artery that runs behind your knee. It is very rare.
Saccular aneurysm: This is the most common type of cerebral aneurysm, which affects an artery in your brain. It looks like a small, berry-like sac attached to the artery.
Aneurysms are usually silent and don’t cause any symptoms. But if an aneurysm gets bigger, it can rupture and bleed. If an unruptured aneurysm in your brain bleeds, it can cause a severe headache and even brain damage. When an aneurysm in your aorta bursts, it can cause serious internal bleeding and death. If you have an aneurysm, you’ll need to get regular checkups and follow-up scans. You’ll also need treatment to prevent it from rupturing. Mayo Clinic researchers are studying new treatments, tests and procedures for aneurysms. Connect with others and share your experience in the Aneurysms support group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Aortic Insufficiency
The aortic valve is one of four heart valves that open and close to regulate blood flow between your lower left chamber (also called the left ventricle) and the main artery, known as the aorta. If this valve doesn’t close tightly enough, a condition known as aortic regurgitation can occur, allowing some oxygen-rich blood pumped from the heart out with each beat to leak backward and weaken its left ventricle, eventually leading to heart failure.
Cusps or leaflets of your aortic valve do not close correctly when your heartbeat propels blood from your left ventricle into the aorta, which then travels throughout your body. Aortic regurgitation causes some of this blood to leak back into the left ventricle, increasing work load on your heart while leading to symptoms like chest tightness that worsen with exercise.
Injury or infection – such as endocarditis – can damage the aortic valve and lead to sudden, acute onset of insufficiency. But insufficiency may also slowly develop over time if you have conditions like bicuspid aortic valve or another congenital heart defect.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dangerous bulge in the aorta that may rupture and cause serious, life-threatening complications, including aortic dissection and thoracic aortic hemorrhage. Ultrasound screening for AAAs is the primary way of detection; your doctor will typically use ultrasound scanning of your aorta from a lateral position with probe placed near umbilicus and pointed toward midline so it can capture all parts of abdominal aortic anatomy simultaneously.
Your doctor can use ultrasound to detect smaller aneurysms by placing a probe over the aortic bifurcation and fanning it towards left, fanning inward to locate all abdominal aortic segments as well as annulus and iliac arteries, with possible aneurysm precursory signs such as calcification.
Abdominal Aorta
The abdominal aorta is the main blood vessel responsible for transporting oxygenated blood from your heart to your abdomen, pelvis and legs. A ruptured aneurysm of this vessel is a life-threatening emergency; screening with ultrasound can detect abnormalities early on to stop ruptures from occurring.
Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound (AAU) is a painless imaging test that utilizes sound waves to produce images of your abdomen’s aorta. The AAU test can identify an enlarged section known as an abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).
An abdominal aortic ultrasound requires you to lie on an exam table while being applied a gel that allows sound waves to pass easily through your body. A handheld probe, known as a transducer, is then moved over the aorta; when this signals back, these are picked up by the transducer and transmitted back to a computer where they’re processed into images of your belly.
Your aorta has multiple branches that extend from your heart down to your abdomen, with the descending aorta forming the longest segment of its cane-like structure and curving downward as far as the ascending aorta, which bridges over the aortic arch, being much shorter in size.
Other segments of the aorta include:
The brachiocephalic artery supplies your right arm and part of your head. Both carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain while the iliac arteries of the aorta supply your legs; additionaly, its pulmonary arteries extend from its arch to your lungs and supply oxygen-rich blood; while mediastinal arteries feed it.
