Segmental asynergy of the left ventricle in a case of tight aortic stenosis associated with mild ischemic heart disease.

Emergency aortic valve replacement with double aorto-coronary bypass surgery was performed to treat severe intractable congestive heart failure in an 82-year-old man. Mild circumflex and left anterior descending artery lesions were present and the pressure gradient across the aortic valve was 80 mmHg despite a low cardiac output. The preoperative anteroseptal akinesia seen by two-dimensional echocardiography was normalized after surgery. Thus, even in patients with segmental left ventricular dysfunction, tight aortic stenosis might be present when concomitant mild ischemic heart disease is present.     

Immediate effect of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis on left ventricular diastolic chamber stiffness.

Diastolic dysfunction is common after coronary artery bypass surgery, and we hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy associated with aortic stenosis may lead to worsening LV diastolic function after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiographic LV images and simultaneous pulmonary arterial wedge pressures were used to define the LV diastolic pressure cross-sectional area relation before and immediately after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in 14 patients. In all patients, LV diastolic chamber stiffness increased, as evidenced by a leftward shift in the LV diastolic pressure cross-sectional area relation. At comparable LV filling (pulmonary arterial wedge) pressures the mean LV end-diastolic cross-sectional area preoperatively was 17.9 +/- 1.7 cm2, but decreased by 32% after aortic valve replacement to 12.1 +/- 1.2 cm2 (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, after aortic valve replacement, diastolic chamber stiffness increased in all patients.     

Dobutamine doppler echocardiography in severe aortic stenosis with left ventricular dysfunction. Comparison with postoperative examination

The association of left ventricular dysfunction with aortic stenosis worsens the spontaneous prognosis and increases operative mortality. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the predictive value of dobutamine Doppler echocardiography on the indices of left ventricular contractile function in patients with aortic stenosis and left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF < 0.45) undergoing aortic valve replacement. Eighteen patients, including 9 with coronary artery disease, were included in a protocol consisting of analysis of left ventricular function and of the severity of aortic stenosis before, during dobutamine infusion, and after valvular replacement. The dobutamine was given in progressive increments of 5 micrograms/Kg up to a maximum of 20 micrograms/Kg. During pharmacological stress, the functional aortic valve area increased from 0.46 +/- 0.15 to 0.56 +/- 0.23 cm2. Tolerance of the procedure was good. All but 2 patients improved their postoperative ejection fraction with values equivalent to those observed during the last increment of dobutamine (r = 0.73; p < 0.003). The patients with initial mean pressure gradients > 50 mmHg normalised their LVEF after valve replacement. The authors conclude that dobutamine echocardiography is useful for predicting the values of postoperative left ventricular contractile indices when severe aortic stenosis is associated with systolic dysfunction. It allows evaluation of the expected short term benefits to these indices after aortic valve replacement.     

Discrete subaortic membranous stenosis--a case report

Isolated subaortic stenosis is a rare type of cardiac anomaly which has been characterized as having two types: the discrete type, including membranous or fibromuscular, and the tunnel type. In the discrete type, a crescent-shaped, fibrous curtain is attached to the ventricular septum or completely encircles the left ventricular outflow tract and can be located anywhere from immediately below the aortic valve to 10 mm or more into the body of ventricle. A 22-year-old female presented at our hospital with a divided PDA, a murmur that was found by incident and progressive exertional dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed left ventricular hypertrophy, moderate aortic insufficiency, and severe aortic stenosis characterized by a thickened aortic valve and membranous type subaortic stenosis with a transmembranous high pressure gradient, 121 mmHg. An operation to replace the aortic valve and excise the membranous collar was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass support. The patient did well during the postoperative follow-up period. If the preoperative LVOT pressure gradient had been higher than 45 mmHg, the incidence of recurrent stenosis, progression of aortic regurgitation and the need for reoperation would have been higher. In order to prevent this from happening, we chose to replace the defective valve with a mechanical valve and enucleate the discrete lesion.     

Early and long-term outcomes after surgical treatment in patients with aortic stenosis and severe left ventricular heart failure without concomitant coronary artery disease with respect to preoperative mean transvalvular pressure gradient

INTRODUCTION: There are limited data on early and long-term prognosis in patients after aortic valve replacement who have left ventricular dysfunction, reduced ejection fraction (EF) < or =35% and no concomitant coronary artery disease. AIM: To assess the prognosis in this group of patients depending on the mean aortic gradient (MAG) value. METHODS: This study involved 60 patients with severe aortic stenosis and EF < or =35%. Patients with coronary artery disease, more than moderate aortic regurgitation and any other valvular lesion were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups based on the MAG values: group I included patients with MAG < or =35 mmHg, and group II included patients with MAG >35 mmHg. RESULTS: Early mortality after aortic valve replacement was 14.2% in group I, and 5.1% in group II. During a mean follow-up of 48 months mortality in groups I and II was 16.6% and 2.6%, respectively. In the follow-up period, a significant functional improvement according to NYHA scale as well as significant decrease of left ventricular dimensions and increase of EF was observed in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe aortic stenosis, left ventricular ejection fraction <35% and MAG < or =35 mmHg constitute a group of the highest early and long-term mortality risk after valve replacement. In turn, patients with MAG >35 mmHg should be classified as the group of slightly increased risk.     

Progression of aortic stenosis.

We assessed progressive stenosis of the aortic valve in 11 adult patients (mean age of 48 years) with aortic stenosis who had undergone two cardiac catheterizations without intervening aortic valve surgery. The mean time between cardiac catheterization was 59 months (range 20 to 133). No patients had mitral valve disease. Two patients had coronary artery disease. The results showed that progressive stenosis of the aortic valve occurred in 10 of 11 patients with a significant decrease in the calculated mean aortic valve area from 1.2 +/- 0.2 sq cm to 0.7 +/- 0.1 sq cm (P less than 0.005); a significant increase in mean left ventricular peak systolic pressure from 149 +/- 8 mm Hg to 199 +/- 3 mm Hg (P less than 0.01), and a significant increase in mean left ventricular aortic pressure gradient from 31 +/- 4 mm Hg to 75 +/- 13 mm Hg (P less than 0.005). On an individual basis, the change in left ventricular pressure and the left ventricular-aortic gradient did not always reflect the decrease in aortic valve area because of variations in cardiac output. The shortest period of time in which progression of aortic stenosis occurred was 27 to 29 months. Thus, progressive stenosis of the aortic valve occurs in adults with isolated aortic valvular stenosis. Significant decrease in the aortic valve area can develop in as short a period as 27 to 29 months.     

Should a Regurgitant Mitral Valve Be Replaced Simultaneously with a Stenotic Aortic Valve?

Mitral valve regurgitation frequently accompanies aortic valve stenosis. It has been suggested that mitral regurgitation improves after aortic valve replacement alone and that the mitral valve need not be replaced simultaneously Furthermore, mitral regurgitation associated with coronary artery disease, particularly in patients with poor left ventricular function, shows immediate improvement after coronary artery bypass grafting. We studied 60 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation to determine the degree of improvement in mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement alone versus aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting. Thirty-six of the patients had normal coronary arteries (Group 1); the other 24 had symptomatic coronary artery disease requiring bypass surgery (Group 2). Echocardiography was performed preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and at follow-up. In Group 1, left ventricular ejection fraction did not improve early or at 2.5 months postoperatively, but mitral regurgitation improved gradually during follow-up. In Group 2, mitral regurgitation showed improvement 1 week postoperatively (p < 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction was improved at 2.5 months. We conclude that patients with aortic valve stenosis and mild-to-severe mitral regurgitation, without echocardiographic signs of chordal or papillary muscle rupture and without coronary artery disease, should undergo aortic valve replacement alone. The mitral regurgitation will remain the same or improve. For patients with coexisting coronary artery disease, simultaneous aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting are imperative; however, the mitral valve again requires no intervention, since mitral regurgitation improves significantly after the other 2 procedures.     

A tale of two pressures: a case of pseudo-prosthetic mitral valve stenosis

We present a case of an 83-year-old female with past medical history of rheumatic fever associated mitral stenosis for which she underwent mitral commissurotomy 25 years prior to presentation. Subsequently, she underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement with a bio-prosthetic valve 8 years prior to presentation. Presently, she started experiencing worsening dyspnea and heart failure symptoms. Echocardiography showed mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with severe aortic stenosis and pulmonary hypertension. The bioprosthetic mitral valve was functioning normally. We performed right and left heart catheterization for evaluation. Peak aortic gradient was 50 mm Hg with a mean gradient of 39 mm Hg. Aortic valve area was calculated to be 0.31 cm(2). However, simultaneous measurement of left ventricular and wedge pressures showed a significant gradient of 11 mm Hg across the mitral valve with a calculated mitral valve area of 0.4 cm(2). Because of discordant information between echocardiographic and hemodynamic data, we proceeded with trans-septal puncture to directly measure left atrial pressures. Simultaneous left atrial and left ventricular pressure measurement demonstrated a mean gradient of 4 mm Hg across the mitral valve with an area calculated at 1.9 cm(2). We review the tracings in detail and discuss the pitfalls of using pulmonary capillary wedge pressure as a surrogate for left atrial pressure.     

Calcified aortic stenosis with left ventricular dysfunction and low transvalvular gradients. Must one reject surgery in certain cases?

The natural history of severe aortic stenosis (aortic valve area < 1 cm2 or < 0.6 cm2/m2) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and low transvalvular gradients (mean gradient < 40 mmHg) is mediocre in the short term and the operative risk is high. Dobutamine echocardiography provides a reliable evaluation of the aortic obstacle by diagnosing the rare cases of relative aortic stenosis in which the valve surface area has been underestimated because of a low cardiac output (aortic surface area > 1.2 cm2 with a mean gradient < 30 mmHg with dobutamine): in this case, the limited available data suggests that medical therapy with strict follow-up of its efficacy is the best management. The other use of dobutamine echocardiography is to assess left ventricular contractile reserve, defined as a increase > or = 20% in stroke volume under dobutamine. Cases with a contractile reserve have an operative risk of 5 to 10% and the medium-term benefits of valve replacement have been demonstrated. In the absence of contractile reserve, the operative risk is much grater, 30 to 60%, and also depends on other parameters such as the mean basal transaortic pressure gradient (risk five times greater in cases with a mean gradient < 20 mmHg), the need for coronary bypass surgery and associated co-morbid conditions. The surgical contraindications are in fact relatively few and concern patients with several risk factors: absence of contractile reserve itself is not a definitive surgical contraindication.     

First report on a human percutaneous transluminal implantation of a self-expanding valve prosthesis for interventional treatment of aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valve replacement is a new technology for the treatment of patients with significant aortic valve stenosis. We present the first report on a human implantation of a self-expanding aortic valve prosthesis, which is composed of three bovine pericardial leaflets inserted within a self-expanding nitinol stent. The 73-year-old woman presented with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient of 45 mmHg; valve area of 0.7 cm2). Surgical valve replacement had been declined for the patient because of comorbidities, including previous bypass surgery. METHOD AND RESULTS: A retrograde approach via the common iliac artery was used for valve deployment. The contralateral femoral vessels were used for a temporary extracorporal circulation, unloading the left ventricle during the actual stent expansion. Clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic outcomes were assessed serially during the procedure. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at day 1, 2, and 14 post procedure was performed to evaluate the short-term outcome. The prosthesis was successfully deployed within the native aortic valve, with accurate and stable positioning and with no impairment of the coronary artery or vein graft blood flow. 2D and doppler echo immediately after device deployment showed a significant reduction in transaortic mean pressure gradient (from 45 to 8 mmHg) without evidence of aortic or mitral valve insufficiency. The clinical status has then significantly improved. These results remained unchanged up to the day 14 follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates a successful percutaneous implantation of a self-expanding aortic valve prosthesis with remarkable functional and clinical improvements in the acute and short-term outcome.     

Hemodynamic changes during retrograde left-heart catheterization in patients with aortic stenosis

Pulmonary artery pressures in patients with aortic stenosis have been related to postoperative prognosis and surgical risk. However, while right- and left-heart pressures should be measured simultaneously, a catheter lying across the stenotic aortic valve might alter left- and right-heart pressures. To assess this phenomenon, right- and left-heart pressures were recorded before and after retrograde crossing of the aortic valve in 51 patients (30 patients with and 21 without aortic stenosis). In aortic stenosis, the mean pulmonary artery pressure increased (p less than 0.001) after transaortic valvular pressure catheter placement (average 4 mm Hg, peak 19 mm Hg); in the absence of aortic stenosis, the mean pulmonary artery pressure did not change (average 0 mm Hg; NS). A similar response was noted for the mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Hemodynamic changes did not correlate with the severity of aortic stenosis or with left ventricular performance. Right-heart pressures should be determined without transaortic valvular catheter in place, if accurate interpretation of the hemodynamic effects of aortic stenosis is to be achieved.     

Hemodynamic progression of adult valvular aortic stenosis

Hemodynamic progression of valvular aortic stenosis was studied in 54 patients who had serial cardiac catheterizations. There were 47 men and 7 women with a mean age of 61.2 years. The time interval between studies was 4.4 years (range, 0.4-12.2). Associated coronary artery disease was present in 37 patients (69%). The initial mean aortic valve area (Hakki's formula) was 1.26 cm2 (range, 0.66-2.85), and the aortic valve area at last follow-up was 0.77 cm2 (range, 0.29-1.95), with mean reduction of 0.49 cm2. The mean peak systolic gradient increased from 23.3 +/- 15.1 mm Hg at initial study to 52.6 +/- 27.5 mm Hg at last study, a mean increase of 29.3 +/- 23.6 mm Hg. Patients with no or mild left ventricular impairment and no or mild coronary artery disease are more likely to have progression than patients with more severe left ventricular impairment or coronary artery disease (P less than 0.05). Aortic valve replacement for progressive aortic stenosis was required at a later date after coronary artery bypass grafting in a small group of nine patients. In this small group, there was high intraoperative mortality of 33%.     

Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge to a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention

We describe a novel approach of using percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge to percutaneous coronary intervention in a patient with refractory congestive heart failure, severe aortic stenosis, severe left ventricular dysfunction and severe 3-vessel coronary artery disease who was not a surgical candidate for aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting.     

冠状动脉旋磨及支架置入+TAVR“一站式”手术的可行性探讨

目的探讨合并冠状动脉重度钙化及狭窄的重度主动脉瓣狭窄(AS)患者行经导管冠状动脉旋磨及支架置入+经导管主动脉瓣置换(TAVR)“一站式”手术的可行性。方法本研究为回顾性研究,连续入选2019年4到10月于阜外医院接受冠状动脉旋磨及支架置入+TAVR“一站式”手术治疗的患者3例。收集患者的术前临床、影像学(包括超声心动图及主动脉根部及全主动脉CT)评估资料,及冠状动脉介入、TAVR手术资料和手术效果、术后6个月随访结果。结果本研究共纳入3例患者,其中2例为女性,年龄范围66~80岁,平均胸外科医师学会(STS)风险评分为7.8%,术前平均主动脉瓣最大流速为4.4 m/s,平均跨瓣压差为52.3 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),平均左心室射血分数为48.6%。2例患者需旋磨靶病变位于前降支中段,1例位于左主干到前降支,3例均合并非旋磨靶病变,平均SYNTAX积分为20分。术中均采用股动脉入路,先进行主动脉瓣跨瓣留置猪尾导管,然后行冠状动脉靶病变旋磨并置入药物洗脱支架,同期进行非旋磨靶病变的支架置入,冠状动脉介入术后予以主动脉瓣球囊扩张及自膨胀瓣膜置入,1例因瓣膜位置偏高予以“瓣中瓣”置入。3例患者均顺利完成手术,即刻效果满意,术中均无并发症。术后复查超声心动图示:平均主动脉瓣最大流速为2.1 m/s,平均跨瓣压差为9.3 mmHg,平均左心室射血分数为59%。随访6个月内无死亡,无冠状动脉再次血运重建。结论对于合并冠状动脉重度钙化及狭窄且外科风险较高的AS患者,行冠状动脉旋磨及支架置入+TAVR“一站式”手术治疗初步结果满意,该技术具有可行性。     

Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty in the aged using the antegrade or retrograde method: a report of two cases

Acquired calcified aortic stenosis in elderly patients successfully resolved after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty (PAV) using the antegrade or retrograde method. The effectiveness and complications of these two methods were compared. A 79-year-old man who had acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary emphysema underwent aortic valvuloplasty using Medi-Tech balloons, 15 mm and 20 mm in diameter, via the brachial artery route. This caused a reduction of the peak and mean aortic valve pressure gradients, from 56 to 30 and from 59 to 35 mmHg, respectively and an increase in the valve area from 0.6 to 0.8 cm2. However, cardiac tamponade developed due to penetration of the left ventricular wall by the guide wire. A 73-year-old man who had transient cerebral ischemia and pulmonary emphysema underwent valvuloplasty by the Inoue's balloon technique (inflated up to 19 mm) via the saphenous vein. This resulted in a reduction of the peak and mean pressure gradients from 35 to 15 and from 39 to 15 mmHg respectively, a month thereafter. There were no complications. To our knowledge, these are the first two reported cases of acquired aortic stenosis which were relieved by percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty in Japan.     

Effect of additional valve lesions on left ventricular ejection time in aortic stenosis.

Rate-corrected left ventricular ejection time was measured from the aortic pressure tracings of 171 catheterised patients with aortic valve area less than or equal to 1.2 cm2. In 50 patients with pure aortic stenosis, left ventricular ejection time in increased with decreasing valve area and was significantly higher (468 +/- 5 ms, mean +/- SEM) than in 13 normal subjects (435 +/- 5 ms). Additional aortic regurgitation in 72 patients further increased the left ventricular ejection time to 484 +/- 4 ms. Significant mitral stenosis (mitral valve are less than or equal to 1.2 cm2) in 6 patients with aortic stenosis and 33 patients with aortic stenosis and regurgitation reduced the left ventricular ejection time to normal. Similarly, severe mitral regurgitation in 3 patients with aortic stenosis and regurgitation reduced left ventricular ejection time to normal, though slight or moderate mitral regurgitation in 4 of these patients did not. These data show that the prolonged left ventricular ejection time in aortic valve disease may be restored to normal in the presence of coexisting significant mitral disease.     

A case of left main systolic compression caused by a dilated pulmonary artery in a patient with congenital pulmonic stenosis

Dynamic compression of the left main coronary artery during systole is extremely rare. We report a case of a 29-year old female who presented with shortness of breath and chest pain with exertion. She had a history of congenital pulmonic stenosis and had a pulmonary valve resection at age 2. She subsequently developed chronic pulmonic insufficiency. She had normal left ventricular systolic function and a dilated right ventricle with pressure and volume overload diagnosed by echocardiography. She had pulmonary artery hypertension with pulmonary artery pressures noted to be systolic of 62mmHg, diastolic of 10 mmHg, mean of 29 mmHg on right heart catheterization. Her echocardiogram also showed an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure of 25 mmHg, which was thought to be due to increased flow. On left heart catheterization, she was found to have dynamic systolic compression of the left main coronary artery by a dilated pulmonary artery. This is the first case report of a patient with congenital pulmonic stenosis with a dilated pulmonary trunk causing systolic compression of the left main coronary artery. Dynamic systolic compression of the left main coronary artery is a rare cause of angina, is rarely reported, and requires a high level of suspicion and careful investigation for accurate diagnosis.     

Congenital ostial left main coronary artery stenosis associated with a bicuspid aortic valve in a young woman

We describe a 41-year-old woman with no cardiac risk factors, typical exertional angina and an abnormal noninvasive stress test. Coronary angiography demonstrated an ambiguous left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) demonstrated no atheroma, but the minimum lumen diameter and area of the ostial LMCA were significantly reduced. Transesophageal echocardiography showed normal left ventricular function with a bicuspid aortic valve. Two-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting was subsequently performed. To our knowledge, this is the first IVUS-documented case of a congenital left main coronary artery stenosis associated with a bicuspid aortic valve.     

Left ventricular mass regression following implantation of MIRA bileaflet valves in patients with severe aortic stenosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors that determine the course of left ventricular mass regression in a homogeneous group of patients following aortic valve replacement by use of the mechanical Edwards MIRA bileaflet prosthesis. Furthermore, we examined if the 19-mm valve leads to an equally good outcome when compared with larger 21- and 23-mm valves. We included 79 patients (49 men) with a mean age of 65 ± 9 years operated on for isolated aortic valve replacement with the MIRA valve prosthesis. The analyses included preoperative and postoperative echocardiograms during a follow-up of at least 18 months (995 ± 439 days) after valve surgery. Indication for valve replacement was aortic stenosis in 59 and combined disease (aortic stenosis and regurgitation) in 20 patients. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 28 patients. Left ventricular mass index declined from 155.6 ± 47 g/m² to 128.8 ± 35 g/m² (P < 0.001) at final visit and normalized in 49% of the patients. Female sex and a preoperatively highly elevated left ventricular mass index were identified as risk factors for residual hypertrophy. However, age and valve size did not have a predictive value for completeness of left ventricular mass regression. This study supports the evidence that an extensive preoperative left ventricular hypertrophy results in an incomplete postoperative mass regression in patients with aortic bileaflet valves. It shows that the slightly elevated pressure gradient in MIRA 19-mm valves does not affect left ventricular mass regression.     

Discrete subaortic stenosis with pressure recovery: a case report

A 54-year-old woman with subvalvular aortic stenosis was admitted to our hospital. The pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract was estimated as 88 mmHg (peak) and 45 mmHg (mean) by Doppler echocardiography, but only 14 mmHg (peak to peak) and 31 mmHg (mean) by cardiac catheterization. We considered this discrepancy attributable to the presence of moderate aortic regurgitation and the pressure recovery phenomenon. Pressure recovery has clinical relevance particularly in a patient with tunnel-like stenosis, with gradual lumen re-expansion beyond the limiting orifice. Therefore, if Doppler echocardiography shows significant left ventricular outflow tract gradient, precise evaluation of the stenosis geometry is required to investigate the effect of pressure recovery.