Timing of aortic valve surgery in chronic aortic stenosis and regurgitation

The correct timing of aortic valve replacement in chronic aortic stenosis or regurgitation is a very important and sometimes difficult task for physicians caring for patients with aortic valve disease. In this review, we will present the current available literature regarding the appropriate management of these patients.     

Pathology of aortic valve stenosis and pure aortic regurgitation a clinical morphologic assessment—part I

This two-part article examines the histologic and morphologic basis for stenotic and purely regurgitant aortic valves. Part I discusses stenotic aortic valves and Part II will discuss causes of purely regurgitant aortic valves. In over 95% of stenotic aortic valves, the etiology is one of three types: congenital (primarily bicuspid), degenerative, or rheumatic. Other rare causes of stenotic aortic valves include active infective endocarditis, homozygous type II hyperlipoproteinemia, and systemic lupus erythematosis. The causes of pure aortic regurgitation are multiple but can be separated into diseases affecting the valve (normal aorta) (infective endocarditis, congenital bicuspid, rheumatic, floppy), diseases affecting the walls of aorta (normal valve) (syphilis, Marfan's, dissection), disease affecting both aorta and valve (abnormal aorta, abnormal valve) (ankylosing spondylitis), and diseases affecting neither aorta nor valve (normal aorta, normal valve) (ventricular septal detect, systemic hypertension). Diseases affecting the aortic valve alone are the most common subgroup of conditions producing pure aortic valve regurgitation.     

经皮主动脉瓣置换术中的二尖瓣反流

主动脉瓣狭窄（aortic stenosis,AS）已成为最为常见的心脏瓣膜病变之一。经皮主动脉瓣置换术（transcatheter aortic valve replacement,TAVR）为无法进行外科手术或外科手术高危的重度/中-重度AS患者提供了一种创伤更小的治疗方法,是近年来国内外发展的热点。由于TAVR手术自身特点,二尖瓣反流（mitral regurgitation,MR）的评价和改变对其尤为重要。目前针对TAVR手术的MR的研究主要集中于术后MR的变化及其影响,但TAVR术中可能出现明显的MR程度的变化,其变化趋势、影响因素及其对患者预后的影响应受到更多重视。超声心动图是评价和监测MR的重要手段,可以较为准确地反映MR变化趋势,对其对预后的影响进行判断,探讨术中MR变化的可能机制。随着超声心动图技术的发展,需要引进更为灵敏客观的指标预测及监测TAVR术中MR的变化趋势,进一步寻找术中MR可能的影响因素。     

Echocardiographic variables associated with mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis

BackgroundMitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently associated with aortic stenosis. Previous reports have shown that coexisting mitral insufficiency can regress after aortic valve replacement (AVR) while others recommend dealing with examination.AimThe study aimed to assess the severity of MR before and after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and to define the determinants of its postoperative evolution.MethodsFor this purpose, 30 adult patients referred for aortic valve surgery underwent pre- and 1 month postoperative transthoracic echocardiography including 2D, MM, PW, CW and color Doppler examination.ResultsPostoperative MR improved in 68.4% of the 19 patients (63.3%) who had preoperative moderate MR (p = 0.002). The effect of the valve size on the postoperative MR was statistically insignificant (0.059) but was significant on regression of the mass (p = 0.001) and drop in mean PG (p = 0.04) across AV. Patients with persistent moderate MR after surgery were all in AF and had significantly larger left atrial size (45 ± 26 mm), compared to none and a smaller left atrial (37 ± 19 mm) in patients in whom MR regressed or disappeared after surgery; respectively, p < 0.05. The postoperative variables associated with moderate MR were peak PG across AV (29.4 ± 5.1 vs 38.0 ± 5.7 p = 0.004), mean PG (15.04 ± 4.4 vs 22.8 ± 5.8 p = 0.009) and LVMI (124.7 ± 19.3 vs 147.2 ± 31.6 p = 0.065).ConclusionPreoperative predictors of residual postoperative MR were large LA and AF while the postoperative variables were high peak and mean pressure gradient across the aortic valve and high LVMI.     

Effects of valve replacement for aortic stenosis on mitral regurgitation

We aimed to prospectively and quantitatively assess the effects of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) on mitral regurgitation (MR) and to examine the determinants of the changes in MR. Fifty-two patients with AS scheduled for AVR were included if holosystolic MR not being considered for replacement or repair was detected. MR was quantified using the proximal isovelocity surface area method before and 8 +/- 4 days after surgery. Mitral valvular deformation parameters did not change significantly, but the mitral effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) and regurgitant volume decreased from 11 +/- 6 mm(2) to 8 +/- 6 mm(2) and from 20 +/- 10 ml to 11 +/- 9 ml, respectively (both p <0.0001). Using multiple linear regression analysis, preoperative severity of MR, mitral leaflet coaptation height, and end-diastolic volume decrease were independently associated with postoperative reduction in MR, whereas changes in mitral valve morphology after surgery were not. MR etiology did not predict the reduction in MR. In conclusion, the decrease in MR observed in most patients after AVR is associated with the magnitude of acute left ventricular reverse remodeling. As the reduction in left ventricular systolic pressure contributes to the decrease in regurgitant volume, the preoperative quantitative assessment of MR should best be performed by measurement of the ERO.     

Effect of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis on severity of mitral regurgitation

The severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) was determined by color Doppler echocardiography in 44 adult patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis before and after isolated aortic valve replacement. Preoperative MR was absent in 17, mild in 14, moderate in 11 and severe in 2 patients. Three to 388 (mean 58) days after surgery, 14 patients continued to have no MR. In the other 30 patients, MR decreased in 18 (60%), remained unchanged in 8 (27%) and increased in only 4 (13%). Furthermore, in 13 patients with significant (moderate or severe) MR, the severity decreased in 12 (92%). Thus, the severity of MR often decreases after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.     

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic regurgitation.

A case of quadricuspid aortic valve is described. The aortic valve consisted of 3 equal-sized and 1 smaller cusps, and a supernumerary cusp located between the right and noncoronary cusps. A right coronary ostium was close to the accessory commissure, and in a lower position. Three fenestrations were found at the supernumerary commissure. Aortic valve replacement was performed successfully with a St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve. On histological examination, the resected cusps showed fibrotic thickening with calcification and no sign of previous inflammatory disease. Quadricuspid aortic valve must be considered a malformation capable of leading to severe valve failure in later life.     

经导管主动脉瓣置入手术在主动脉瓣狭窄合并二尖瓣反流治疗中的疗效分析

目的:分析经导管主动脉瓣置入术在主动脉瓣狭窄合并二尖瓣反流(MR)的疗效。方法:选取我院就诊的主动脉瓣狭窄合并MR流患者31例,所有患者均行经导管主动脉瓣置入术,按照患者的MR流严重程度分为A组(轻度)和B组(中度、重度)。比较两组的并发症发生率、术后1个月的LVEF、LVEDD、MR和NYHA分级,比较两组在术后1个月、3个月时的死亡率和生活质量。结果:两组的各并发症发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组在术后1个月时的LVEF和日常生活能力量表(ADL)评分均明显高于B组(P<0.05);A组在术后1个月时的死亡率、LVEDD、MR和NYHA分级明显低于B组(P<0.05);两组患者在术后3个月时的死亡率和ADL评分均差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:经导管主动脉瓣置入手术可用于主动脉瓣狭窄合并不同程度MR流患者的治疗中,反流的严重程度对患者远期死亡率和生活质量恢复的影响较小。     

A larger aortic annulus causes aortic regurgitation and a smaller aortic annulus causes aortic stenosis in bicuspid aortic valve

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) often causes aortic stenosis (AS) or regurgitation (AR). In 54 patients with a BAV (48 +/- 16 years), transthoracic and transesophageal echo were performed to measure aortic annulus diameter (AAD), to evaluate the severity of aortic valve disease (AVD) and to calculate the area eccentricity index (AEI) of a BAV defined as a ratio of the larger aortic cusp area to a smaller aortic cusp area. By multiple linear regression analysis, the severity of AR correlated significantly with the AAD (r = 0.38) and AEI (r = 0.35) (P < 0.05) and that of AS correlated significantly with the AAD (r =-0.40) and AEI (r = 0.34) (P < 0.05). Thirty-six patients showed anteroposteriorly (A-P) located BAVs and 18 patients showed right-left (R-L) located BAVs. The AAD was larger in A-P type than in R-L type (15 +/- 3 vs 13 +/- 2 mm/BSA, P < 0.05) and there was no difference in the age and AEI between the two groups. AR was more severe in A-P type than in R-L type while AS was more severe in R-L type than in A-P type (P < 0.05). Twenty-nine patients showed raphes. The AEI was larger in raphe (+) type than in raphe (-) type (1.83 +/- 0.53 vs 1.51 +/- 0.47, P < 0.05) and there was no difference in the AAD and severity of AVD between the two groups. In conclusion, a BAV with larger aortic annulus or A-P located will tend to cause AR while a BAV with smaller aortic annulus or R-L located will tend to cause AS.     

Gradient reduction, aortic valve regurgitation and prolapse after balloon aortic valvuloplasty in 32 consecutive patients with congenital aortic stenosis

From 1986 to 1988, balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed in 32 patients with congenital valvular aortic stenosis. The patients ranged in age from 2 days to 28 years (mean +/- SD 8.3 +/- 5.9). One balloon was used in 17 patients and two balloons were used in 15 patients. Immediately after valvuloplasty, peak systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve decreased significantly from 77 +/- 27 to 23 +/- 16 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), a 70% reduction in gradient. At early follow-up study (4.1 +/- 3.3 months after valvuloplasty), there was a 48 +/- 20.5% reduction in gradient compared with that before valvuloplasty, and at late follow-up evaluation (19.2 +/- 5.6 months), a reduction in gradient of 40 +/- 29% persisted. Echocardiography showed evidence of significantly increased aortic regurgitation in 10 patients (31%) and aortic valve prolapse in 7 patients (22%). There was no correlation between the balloon/anulus ratio and the subsequent development of aortic regurgitation or prolapse. In fact, no patient who showed a significant increase in aortic regurgitation had had a balloon/anulus ratio greater than 100%. It is concluded that balloon aortic valvuloplasty effectively reduces peak systolic pressure gradient across the aortic valve in patients with congenital aortic stenosis. However, subsequent aortic regurgitation and prolapse occur in a significant number of patients, even if appropriate technique and a balloon size no greater than that of the aortic anulus are used.     

Whipple’s disease with aortic regurgitation requiring aortic valve replacement

Summary Cardiac involvement in Whipple’s disease is well established. However, clinical consequences beside antibiotic therapy have rarely been reported. Our observation of a middle-aged man with increasing dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness leading to admission to a cardiology department demonstrates that cardiac symptoms may represent the main symptoms in patients with Whipple’s disease. The diagnosis was not made prior to upper endoscopy, performed because of diarrhea, and revealed Whipple’s agent now classified asTropheryma whippelii, which is a PAS-positive rod-shaped bacterium in the macrophages of the intestinal lamina propria. The aortic valve was replaced after the intestinal symptoms were resolved by antibiotic treatment reducing the number of infectious agents in the duodenal mucosa. Histological analysis of the aortic valve demonstrated the presence of PAS-positive rod shaped material as the most likely cause of aortic insufficiency. Five months after valve replacement, the patient had completely recovered from intestinal and cardiac symptoms. Still under antibiotic treatment 16 months later, no more PAS-positive macrophages were detectable in the intestinal mucosa.     

主动脉瓣病变伴根部严重狭小的外科治疗

主动脉瓣置换手术人工瓣膜瓣开面积与患者的体表面积匹配影响手术的远期临床疗效，因此，对于主动脉根部狭小患者，常需行主动脉窦部或瓣环加宽以置换直径较大的人工瓣膜。从1998年1月到2007年12月，我们共实施21例小主动脉根部加宽和主动脉瓣置换手术，取得了满意的临床效果。现报道如下。