Echocardiographic Findings of Congenital Valvular Heart Disease in Young Athletes

Abstract

Here the author shows two cardiac ultrasound images of otherwise healthy young athletes recorded during sports preparticipation screening. Figure 1 shows the typical aortic valve deformity called, “hockey stick”, of the bicuspid aortic valve magnified by parasternal long axis view, while Figure 2 shows the typical finding of type I supra-valvular pulmonic stenosis, involving main pulmonary artery, visualized by parasternal short axis view. Despite the congenital heart valvular anomalies, both athletes were considered fit to sports competition. Congenital cardiac anomalies are frequent in young athletes, however in most cases the physical fitness is not compromised. Echocardiography is the mainstay in the diagnosis and follow-up assessment of young athletes with congenital heart disease.