Critical Aortic Valve Stenosis in Infants.

Critical aortic stenosis (AS) in infants is a severe congenital heart defect requiring early intervention to prevent cardiogenic shock and death. Critical AS results from dysplastic valve morphology obstructing left ventricular outflow, presenting with ductal-dependent systemic circulation until intervention can be performed. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) and surgical valvotomy are established treatments, with BAV increasingly favored for its less invasive profile. Despite high-reintervention rates, individualized treatment based on anatomy and institutional expertise remains a key to optimizing survival and long-term valve function.