Patent Ductus Arteriosus with Left to Right Shunting Exacerbating Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic stenosis (AS) leads to a reduced effective orifice of the aortic valve, and severity is based on obstructions in flow and velocity. In some patients, coexisting structural cardiac abnormalities that increase left ventricular volume, such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), may complicate evaluation and management. We present the case of a patient with severe AS and unrepaired PDA and discuss the hemodynamic implications and important physiological changes resulting from the interactions between these lesions. It is important for clinicians to consider the impact of PDA closure in the evolution of AS and related symptoms.