Stenosis

Stenosis (Greek στένωση, stenosi, " narrowing " of στενός, Steno, "eng" ) is a narrowing of blood vessels or other hollow organs. Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and treatment depend on the localization and clinical findings.

Stenosis of blood vessels

Stenosis of blood vessels are usually caused by atherosclerosis.

Restenosis with the re- occlusion of the blood vessel will be referred to after treatment. This is a common complication for instance in accordance with the insertion of a stent when the body's own tissue in the vessel in overgrown and thereby narrows again.

In coronary heart disease ( CHD) is a stenosis often makes noticeable by anginal complaints. A stenosis is often the first sign of a closure, which then leads to acute myocardial infarction.

Lying stenosis at the leg vessels before, this is called peripheral arterial disease. There are also stenosis of the renal arteries, the iliac vessels and to the neck vessels. The latter represent a risk for cerebral infarction by vascular occlusion or arterial embolism dar.

For the diagnosis of sonography or stress echocardiography, digital subtraction angiography or coronary angiography, Magnetresonanzangiografie and Computertomografieangiografie be used.

Often pharmacological treatment is indicated only be reduced in the blood pressure, as well as triglycerides and cholesterol are given clotting inhibitors. There are also indications, where stenoses to be treated with an angioplasty (with or without stenting ), or with a bypass. In this method the coronary PTCA hot (even balloon dilatation ) or coronary artery bypass.

Stenosis of the heart valves

As aortic stenosis congenital or acquired narrowing of the aortic valve, or the outflow tract of the left ventricle is understood. At other valvular stenosis to occur, especially in the area of the pulmonary valve, less often the atrioventricular valves ( mitral and tricuspid valves ) are affected. Characteristic of stenosis is a remote, rising and falling heart murmur ( crescendo - decrescendo type) on auscultation.

More stenosis

• Esophageal stenosis ( For example, pyloric atresia by, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer in the antrum or caused by cicatricial changes ).
• Gastric Ausgangsstenose (contained in pyloric hypertrophy or a gastric carcinoma in the pyloric region in front ).
• Intestinal stenosis, in extreme cases, intestinal obstruction ( eg, Crohn's disease can occur due to clamps or a radiation enteritis ).
• Bile duct stenosis (also called DHC- stenosis, may occur, for example as a cicatricial change after a gallstone disease, with pancreatic carcinoma or a cholangiocellular carcinoma).
• Tracheal stenosis ( tracheal stenosis ) or bronchial stenosis ( bronchial ). Can Dyspnea ( shortness of breath ) or atelectasis lead, occurs, for example in lung cancer or very large goiter of the thyroid gland.
• Ureteral stenosis ( obstructive uropathy or so-called ureteral stenosis, may lead to urinary retention ).
• Spinal stenosis (as cauda equina syndrome, eg herniated disc ).
• Stenosis of the foramina of the cerebral ventricles ( leading to hydrocephalus ).
• Lymphatic vessel stenosis (eg in cancer or after surgery. Can lymphoedema, in extreme cases lead to elephantiasis ).