Diagnosis and management of acyanotic heart disease: part I -- obstructive lesions.

In this review, the clinical features and management of most commonly encountered acyanotic obstructive cardiac lesions are discussed. Mild lesions, especially in children are usually asymptomatic while neonates and infants may present with symptoms. Ejection systolic murmurs in patients with pulmonic and aortic stenosis and decreased femoral pulses and blood pressure difference (>20 mmHg) between arms and leg in patients with aortic coarctation are usually seen. Clinical diagnosis is not difficult and the diagnosis can be confirmed and quantitated by non-invasive echocardiographic studies. Whereas surgical intervention was used in the past, balloon dilatation appears to be effective in the treatment of these lesions.