Associated problems include pulmonary effusion, protein-losing enteropathy, ascites, edema, thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident, endocarditis, and arrhythmias. The patient may eventually need a heart transplant because the single ventricle begins to fail and lung problems develop. A bicuspid aortic valve has two cusps rather than the normal three. Typically asymptomatic in childhood, the patient may reach middle age before he develops aortic valve stenosis, regurgitation, aortic dissection, or aneurysmal aortic root dilation. Aortic or pulmonary stenosis indicates narrowing of the left or right ventricular outflow tract, leading to obstructed blood flow and ventricular hypertrophy.
Aortic stenosis poses a high risk of endocarditis.
Coarctation of the aorta is a localized narrowing near the aortic arch that increases resistance to blood flow from the left ventricle and decreases arterial flow to the lower body. Other possible complications include right atrial or ventricular dilation, atrial fibrillation, and incomplete right bundle-branch block. Because ASD is relatively simple to repair, surgical results are generally excellent. Complete repair is typically done before 6 months of age, but patients may require future valve repairs or replacements.