slightly dilated aorta

how do you know when aorta valve is too much.The test haven,t changed for three years.If threre were any changes.It might have gotten a little larger

[Jeffrey R Boris, M.D.]

Dear Hot7,

The way we evaluate the size of the aorta and the valve in a pediatric cardiology office to perform an echocardiogram, or cardiac ultrasound.  In the context of the echo, measurements of the valve and the aorta are made.  They are compared to prior measurements AND are compared to your body surface area (“indexed” for body size).  We can graph these and determine whether there has been any clinically significant changes that warrant intervention or just continued observation.