Mitral annular calcification in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis

Limited data exist on clinical relevance of aortic valve stenosis (AVS) and mitral annular calcification (MAC), although with similar pathophysiologic basis. We sought to reveal the prevalence of MAC and its clinical features in the patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for AVS. We reviewed 106 consecutive patients who underwent isolated AVR from 2004 to 2010. Before AVR, CT scans were performed to identify MAC, whose severity was graded on a scale of 0–4, with grade 0 denoting no MAC and grade 4 indicating severe MAC. Echocardiography was performed before AVR and at follow-up over 2 years after AVR. MAC was identified in 56 patients with grade 1 (30 %), 2 (39 %), 3 (18 %), and 4 (13 %), respectively. Patients with MAC presented older age (72 ± 8 versus 66 ± 11 years), higher rate of dialysis-dependent renal failure (43 versus 4 %), and less frequency of bicuspid aortic valve (9 versus 36 %), when compared to those without MAC. No significant differences were seen in short- and mid-term mortality after AVR between the groups. In patients with MAC, progression of neither mitral regurgitation nor stenosis was observed at follow-up of 53 ± 23 months for 102 survivors, although the transmitral flow velocities were higher than in those without MAC. In conclusion, MAC represented 53 % of the patients undergoing isolated AVR for AVS, usually appeared in dialysis-dependent elder patients with tricuspid AVS. MAC does not affect adversely upon the survival, without progression of mitral valve disease, at least within 2 years after AVR.     

Aortic valve replacement for patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is not normally recommended in asymptomatic patients, even if aortic stenosis is severe. However, as the population ages, an increasing number of patients with mild or moderate aortic stenosis will require coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In these cases, risk of "prophylactic" AVR needs to be weighed against risks of subsequent worsening of the mildly or moderately diseased aortic valve. If unoperated, aortic stenosis will worsen at an average of 6-8 mmHg per year (-0.1 cm2/year valve area), and one-quarter of such patients will require late AVR with a high operative mortality (14-24%). If AVR is performed at the time of CABG, operative risk is increased only slightly (from 1-3% to 2-6%), as are late mortality (1-2% per year) and morbidity (1-2% per year), mainly from hemorrhagic complications. Intrinsic gradients of most prosthetic valves are sufficiently low that even patients with low aortic valve gradients are likely to derive hemodynamic benefit from AVR. Thus, if there is a measurable (>20-25 mmHg) gradient across the aortic valve in a patient who requires CABG, the patient is at considerable risk for developing symptomatic aortic stenosis prior to reaching the end of expected benefit from CABG; in this case AVR should be considered. It may be reasonable in patients with very mild gradients (<25 mmHg) to defer aortic valve surgery; however, it should be noted that aortic stenosis progression is generally more rapid when the initial gradient is small.     

经导管主动脉瓣置换术后心肌损伤的荟萃分析

目的:系统评价经导管主动脉瓣置换术后心肌损伤的发生率及预测因子。方法:全面检索PubMed、Springer、Elsevier-SDOL、EMbase、SSCI、CNKI、VIP、中国生物医学文献数据库、万方数据资源系统,收集2009年1月至2015年11月发表的主动脉瓣置换术后心肌损伤的研究文献。利用疾病患病率或发病率质量准则评价文献质量,运用Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0软件进行荟萃分析。结果:最终纳入9个研究,均为非随机对照研究,共包含2 423例接受经导管主动脉瓣膜置换术的严重主动脉瓣狭窄患者。术后心肌损伤的总体发生率为20.5%(95%CI:18.5~22.7)。经导管主动脉瓣膜置换术后发生心肌损伤的独立预测因子包括:经心尖途径、早期手术经验不足、瓣膜栓塞或需要置入第2个瓣膜、大出血或致命性出血、冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病病史、手术时间、术前存在肾功能不全。结论:经导管主动脉瓣置换术后心肌损伤的总体发生率高达20.5%,可能对预后产生不良影响,应当针对其预测因子进行早期干预以改善患者预后。     

The impact of mitral stenosis on outcomes of aortic valve stenosis patient undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Background

The concomitant presence of mitral stenosis (MS) in the setting of symptomatic aortic stenosis represent a clinical challenge. Little is known regarding the outcome of mitral stenosis (MS) patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Therefore, we sought to study the outcome of MS patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Method

Using weighted data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2011 and 2014, we identified patients who were diagnosed with MS. Patients who had undergone TAVR as a primary procedure were identified and compared to patients who had SAVR. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for the outcomes of in‐hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), blood transfusion, postprocedural hemorrhage, vascular, cardiac and respiratory complications, permanent pacemaker placement (PPM), postprocedural stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), and discharge to an outside facility.

Results

A total of 4524 patients were diagnosed with MS, of which 552 (12.2%) had TAVR and 3972 (87.8%) had SAVR. TAVR patients were older (79.9 vs 70.0) with more females (67.4% vs 60.0%) and African American patients (7.7% vs 7.1%) (P < 0.001). In addition, the TAVR group had more comorbidities compared to SAVR in term of coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic lung disease, hypertension (HTN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (P < 0.001 for all). Using Multivariate logistic regression, and after adjusting for potential risk factors, TAVR patients had lower in‐hospital mortality (7.9% vs 8.1% adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR], 0.615; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.392–0.964, P = 0.034), shorter LOS. Also, TAVR patients had lower rates of cardiac and respiratory complications, PPM, AKI, and discharge to an outside facility compared with the SAVR group.

Conclusion

In patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant mitral stenosis, TAVR is a safe and attractive option for patients undergoing AVR with less complications compared with SAVR.

     

Prophylactic aortic valve replacement in older patients for mild aortic stenosis during coronary bypass surgery

Coronary bypass surgery (CBS) is performed in many older patients who frequently also have mild calcific aortic stenosis. It is important that a correct assessment of the severity of aortic stenosis is done by calculating the aortic valve area. Mild aortic stenosis is aortic valve area >1.5 cm², >0.9 cm²/m²; severe aortic stenosis is aortic valve area = 1.0 cm², = 0.6 cm²/m². Patients who have severe aortic stenosis should have aortic valve replacement (AVR) at the time of CBS. Patients with mild aortic stenosis should not have AVR simultaneously with CBS because: 1) patients having AVR+CBS have a higher operative and 10-year mortality; 2) prosthetic heart valves are associated with a complication rate of 2%-6% per year; and 3) only about 12% of patients with mild aortic stenosis will have developed severe aortic stenosis in 10 years. Performing AVR for mild aortic stenosis at the time of CBS will probably result in 91 unnecessary AVRs and 29 excess deaths in 10 years.     

Demographic characteristics of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for stenosis: relation to valve morphology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative importance of the different causes of isolated aortic valve stenosis in a surgical series, and to relate these to patient characteristics including the rate of insertion of bypass grafts for coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Survey of the clinical and pathological data on patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for isolated stenosis. SETTING: Tertiary care cardiothoracic surgical unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 465 adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement representing a consecutive series in one surgical unit. Retrospective review of patients records and classification of cause of aortic stenosis based on pathological examination of excised valve cusps. RESULTS: 63.7% patients had calcific bicuspid valves, 26.9% tricuspid calcific valves, and 5.4% rheumatic, 2.6% mixed pathology and 1.5% unicommissural valves. The ratio of males to females for bicuspid valves was 1.85:1 and for tricuspid calcific valves 0.76:1. The mean age of patients with bicuspid valves was 64.9 years compared with 73.4 years for those with tricuspid valves. Some 22.3% of patients with bicuspid valves and 44.8% of those with tricuspid valves had sufficient coronary artery disease to necessitate insertion of coronary bypass grafts. The differential rate of insertion of coronary bypass grafts was independent of age. CONCLUSIONS: Bicuspid calcified aortic valves are the predominant cause of isolated aortic valve stenosis followed by tricuspid calcified aortic valves. The sex and age distribution of bicuspid and tricuspid calcific aortic valve stenosis is different. The higher rate of insertion of vascular grafts in tricuspid calcific aortic valves may indicate that risk factors for atherosclerosis enhance cusp calcification in these patients.     

钙化性主动脉瓣狭窄的外科治疗

目的评价钙化性主动脉瓣狭窄外科治疗效果及成功因素。方法对26例钙化性主动脉瓣狭窄患者随访分析,年龄55～70岁,平均62岁。主动脉跨瓣压差52～191mmHg,平均97mmHg,室间隔、左室后壁厚度14～19mm,合并关闭不全7例。手术均在全麻、低温和体外循环下行机械瓣置换,同期行Manouguian法扩大主动脉瓣环9例、CABG3例、Wheat术1例。结果术后早期和晚期各死亡1例。随访心脏超声LVEF为51%～72%,室间隔及左室后壁厚度8～12mm,人工瓣跨瓣压差8～26mmHg。心功能为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级。结论瓣膜置换是治疗钙化性主动脉瓣狭窄唯一安全有效的方法,恰当的手术时机、合适的瓣膜型号是提高手术远期疗效的重要保证。     

Assessment of coronary artery disease using coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with aortic valve stenosis referred for surgical aortic valve replacement

Background

In patients referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR) a pre-surgical assessment of coronary artery disease is mandatory to determine the possible need for additional coronary artery bypass grafting. The diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) was evaluated in patients with aortic valve stenosis referred for surgical AVR.

Methods

Between March 2008 and March 2010 a total of 181 consecutive patients were included. All patients underwent pre-surgical coronary CTA (64- or 320-detector CT scanner) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA). The analyses were performed blinded to each other.

Results

The mean ± SD age of the included patients was 71 ± 9 years and 59% were male. The prevalence of significant coronary artery stenosis > 70% by ICA was 36%. Average heart rate during coronary CTA was 65 ± 16 bpm. In a patient based analysis 94% of the patients (171/181) were considered fully evaluable. Coronary CTA had a sensitivity of 68%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 81%, and a negative predictive value of 83%. Advanced age, obstructive lung disease, NYHA function class III/IV, and high Agatston score were found to be significantly associated with disagreement between ICA and coronary CTA in univariate analysis.

Conclusion

In patients with aortic valve stenosis referred for surgical AVR the diagnostic accuracy of coronary CTA to identify significant coronary artery disease is moderate. Coronary CTA may be used successfully in a subset of patients with low age, no chronic obstructive lung disease, NYHA function class < III and low coronary Agatston score.     

Percutaneous valvulotomy for calcified aortic valve stenosis in the adult

This study describes the initial experience of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", with percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty for calcified aortic valve stenosis in adults. Five patients, 4 males and a female (mean age 54 +/- 7 years), were included. All of them had poor ventricular function, and were not surgical candidates. Although it is in fact a small group, the results are promising, with a success rate of 80%, and without mortality. In only one case, the transvalvular gradient could not be modified.     

Prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients with isolated aortic valve stenosis.

The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (reduction in luminal diameter by more than 50%) among 88 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis requiring aortic valve replacement at Hammersmith Hospital was examined. Twenty two (34%) patients had significant coronary disease. Nineteen of 42 (45%) patients with typical angina had coronary disease; three of 20 (15%) patients with atypical chest pain had coronary disease, while none of 26 patients free of chest pain had significant coronary disease. Risk factors for coronary disease were equally distributed among patients with and without significant luminal obstruction. Because of the small, but definite, hazard of coronary arteriography and in the interest of cost containment it is suggested that patients with aortic stenosis who are free of chest pain do not require routine coronary arteriography. This applies particularly to patients requiring urgent aortic valve replacement.     

老年人主动脉瓣置换术后病死率分析

目的 对年龄≥70岁的主动脉瓣狭窄患者主动脉瓣置换术后的病死率进行分析.方法 回顾性分析246例年龄≥70岁、并接受主动脉瓣置换的主动脉瓣狭窄患者的临床资料.其中高血压144例(58.5%),心房颤动42例(17.1%),肥胖27例(11.0%),有心脏手术史18例(7.3%).结果 手术30 d内死亡29例,病死率为...     

老年人主动脉瓣置换术后病死率分析

Objective To analyze the mortality in people aged 70 years and over who had undergone aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis.Methods The clinical data of 246consecutive cases aged 70 years and over,who had received AVR,were retrospectively analyzed.The 144 cases (58.5 % ) had hypertension,42 cases ( 17.1 %) had atrial fibrillation,27 cases ( 11.0 % )were obeses,and 18 cases (7.3%) had undergone previous heart surgery.Results The 29 cases (11.8%) were dead within 30 days after operation.Among them,15 cases (8.8%) were with isolated AVR and the other 14 cases (18.7%) were with an associate procedure,the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05).The rate of postoperative complication was 24 .4%.The commoncomplications were:48 cases (19.5%) with low cardiac output,24 cases (9.8%) with renal dysfunction,52 cases (21.1% ) with prolonged ventilatory support and 12 cases (4.9%) with sepsis.In the Poisson regression analysis,the main predictors of mortality were low cardiac output,renal failure,sepsis and associate procedure.The main predictors of morbidity were CBP time ＞ 120 min,atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Conclusions The balance between the benefits and risks of the surgery should be well evaluated before deciding to perform AVR.