LEFT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT OBSTRUCTION

Course overview

LEFT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT OBSTRUCTION (LVOTO) REFERS TO THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE BLOOD FLOWING OUT OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE. IT CAN OCCUR AT THE VALVULAR, SUBVALVULAR, OR SUPRAVALVULAR LEVEL. IN GENERAL, THERE IS AN OBSTRUCTION TO FORWARD FLOW WHICH INCREASES AFTERLOAD, AND IF UNTREATED, CAN RESULT IN HYPERTROPHY, DILATATION, AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE. PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LVOTO MAY SEE A PEDIATRICIAN OR GENERAL PHYSICIAN FIRST AND THEN BE REFERRED TO AN ADULT OR PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH LVOTO AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.