Outcomes and survival with aortic valve replacement compared with medical therapy in patients with low-, moderate-, and severe-gradient severe aortic stenosis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction

Background: This study determined outcomes and survival with aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus medical therapy in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with severely reduced aortic valve areas (AVA) but nonsevere mean gradients. Methods: We identified 248 aortic stenosis (AS) patients with LVEF ≥ 50% and echocardiographic AVA < 1.0 cm². Group 1 had low‐gradient: <30 mmHg mean gradient; group 2 (moderate: 30 to 40 mm Hg); and group 3 (severe: >40 mm). Results: There were 94, 87, and 67 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3. Incidence of death in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 55%, 39%, and 39% (P not significant). Incidence of AVR in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 23%, 53%, and 49% (P < 0.0001 for group 1 vs. 2; P = 0.0003 for group 1 vs. group 3). Incidence of AVR or death was 71%, 77%, and 76% (P not significant). AVR (hazard ratio = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.18, 0.51; P < 0.0001) and mitral annular calcification (hazard ratio = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.40, 3.88; P = 0.001) were independently associated with time to mortality. Kaplan–Meier curves for time to death did not differ significantly among the three groups. Kaplan–Meier survival curves for patients with and without AVR showed patients in all three groups who underwent AVR had significantly greater survival. Conclusion: Among patients with normal LVEF and AVA < 1.0 cm², overall survival does not differ among those with low‐, moderate‐, or severe‐aortic valve gradients. Survival is significantly improved with AVR, regardless of gradient. (Echocardiography 2011;28:378‐387)     

Asymptomatic chronic traumatic aortic valve perforation with severe aortic regurgitation

Here, we present a young asymptomatic male patient incidentally diagnosed to have aortic regurgitation (AR). The patient had a history of a blunt trauma to the thorax two years back but did never have any symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a moderately dilated left ventricle with normal systolic function and severe AR with normal nondilated aortic root and tri-leaflet aortic valve. To diagnose the etiology of the AR, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was done, which revealed a perforation in the nonadjacent leaflet (NAL) and confirmed severe AR with two AR jets being clearly visualized, one through the point of incomplete coaptation and other one through the perforated area in the NAL. The patient was treated with aortic valve replacement and was doing well on follow-up.     

同种异体带瓣主动脉行主动脉根部置换的临床效果

目的 :探讨应用低温保存的同种异体带瓣主动脉行主动脉根部重建手术的临床效果。方法 :85例主动脉瓣膜病变患者行同种主动脉根部置换手术 ,术后随访观察临床结果。结果 :随访 39± 13（1.5～ 91）个月。早期手术死亡率 1% （1/ 85 ） ,远期手术死亡率 6 % （5 / 85 ） ;与术前比较心功能明显改善 （P<0 .0 5 ） ;术后随访心内膜炎发生率占2 % （2 / 85 ） ;生存者中瓣膜无或有轻度返流 84 % （6 6 / 79） ,中度返流 16 % （13/ 79）。结论 :同种异体带瓣主动脉根部重建手术效果可靠 ,且并发症少。     

Difficulties with horizontal aortic root in transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) emerged to be a viable treatment option for failing bioprosthesis in the aortic position. Transfemoral approach is the most common access route for TAVI and associated with most favorable clinical outcome. However, in the presence of unfavorable aortic root anatomy, TAVI via transfemoral approach provides inadequate support for device manipulation during valve positioning, particularly performed for the indication of severe aortic regurgitation. We report our experience on TAVI utilizing CoreValve for a patient with regurgitant failing bioprosthesis with horizontal aortic root where we encountered difficulties during implantation and retrieval of valve delivery system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Normal and stenotic human aortic valve opening: in vitro assessment of orifice area changes with flow

The ability to measure aortic valve area clinically has emphasizedthe need to understand the changes in aortic valve orifice areaduring flow. To compare the performance of normal and stenotichuman aortic valves we used a pulsatile flow model that simulatedin vivo flow conditions. Five normal autopsy specimens and 15stenotic valves removed at operation were mounted into the model.Valve function was assessed by analysis of video recordingsof valve leaflet motion during flow. Over the flow rates testednormal valves demonstrated a linear increase in orifice area.There was no resistance to leaflet opening and valve closurewas rapid. The majority of stenotic valves demonstrated an increasein orifice area at low flow rates. No valve showed any increasein maximal area beyond flow rates of 31 min^–1. Increasedleaflet resistance of these abnormal valves resulted in notablyslower opening and closing rates. In patients with a high cardiacoutput and severe stenosis, overesti-mation of the anatomicorifice area derived by the Gorlin equation can result. Thisis not related to variability in maximal orifice area.     

Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation after aortic valve repair with HAART 300 device

We report the first successful case, to our knowledge, of CoreValve Evolut R (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) implantation into a failed HAART 300 aortic annuloplasty device (BioStable Science & Engineering, TX). An 81‐year‐old man presented with severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation secondary to failure of the 21 mm HAART 300 device, which had been implanted 45 days previously. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed grade 3 aortic regurgitation with central jet, without aortic valve stenosis. Because of the high risk for redo surgery, the heart team proceeded with femoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The 26 mm CoreValve Evolut R was deployed into the 21 mm HAART 300 device without difficulty or complications. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The patient was discharged after 5 days. TTE showed a mean aortic valve gradient of 18 mmHg, with minimal paravalvular leak. Our experience suggests that CoreValve Evolut R implantation may be an attractive option in patients with failed HAART 300 aortic annuloplasty.     

Aortic valve orifice equation independent of valvular flow intervals: application to aortic valve area computation in aortic stenosis and comparison with the Gorlin formula

An orifice equation is derived relating the effective aorticvalve area, A, the average aortic valve pressure gradient, dP,the stroke volume,SV, and the heart frequency, FH, through considerationsof momentum conservation across the aortic valve. This leadsto a formula consistent with Newton's second law of motion.The form of the new equation is A =(7.5 x 10^–5) SV F_H²/P_d, where A, V_s, F_H and P_d are expressed in cm², ml, s^–1and mmHg, respectively. Aortic valve areas computed with thenew orifice equation are found to correlate with those computedby the Gorlinformula in conditions of resting haemodynamic statesat a level of r = 0.86, SE=0.25 cm², N= 120. The results suggestthat the new formula may be considered as an independent orificeequation having a similar domain of validity as the Gorlinformula.The new equation offers the possibility of deriving additionaluseful haemodynamic relationships through combination with establishedcardiological formulas and applying it in a noninvasive Dopplerultrasonic or echocardiographic context.     

Low flow low gradient aortic stenosis: clinical pathways

Aortic stenosis patients with severe LV dysfunction and low cardiac output present with relatively low transvalvular gradients. It is difficult to distinguish them from aortic sclerosis and LV dysfunction with low cardiac output. The former condition is severe AS with LV dysfunction and latter is primarily a contractile dysfunction. Dobutamine stress echocardiogram is key to diagnosis.AS with LV dysfunction associated with preserved contractile reserve benefit from valve replacement and those without contractile reserve needs critical evaluation on a case to case basis. Patients of AS with LV dysfunction with associated coronary artery disease need coronary angiograms to decide regarding need for valve replacement with bypass surgery. A subset of AS patients have low flow, low mean gradients with preserved ejection fraction in whom one must evaluate global hemodynamic load to assess ventriculo-arterial impedence.In this review an approach to the clinical pathways for assessment of low flow, low gradient aortic stenosis has been discussed.     

Mixed aortic valve disease treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a high risk patient presenting with acute decompensated heart failure

Mixed aortic valve disease refers to the combination of aortic regurgitation (AR) and aortic stenosis (AS). Commonly etiologies include a bicuspid aortic valve, rheumatic heart disease, and endocarditis superimposed upon a stenotic aortic valve. Treatment depends upon the severity of disease, the presence of symptoms and the size and function of the left ventricle. We present a case of a young patient that presented with new onset acute decompensated heart failure with mixed aortic valve disease that was successful treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Invasive hemodynamics at baseline and following TAVR provide an insight into the characteristic features of mixed aortic valve disease. TAVR represents a new treatment option for critically ill patients deemed high risk or nonoperable for surgical aortic valve replacement.     

Severe aortic regurgitation with intimal intussusception secondary to Debakey type I aortic dissection

Aortic regurgitation (AR) with intimal intussusception, secondary to aortic dissection, is relatively rare and the images are interesting findings. We report a typical case of severe AR with intimal intussusception, secondary to DeBakey type I aortic dissection, detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Since there are three types of aortic regurgitation with aortic dissection, it is imperative to consider the most appropriate intervention for AR. The combination of CECT, TEE, and surgical findings may play an important role in determining the optimum surgical procedure for AR with aortic dissection.     

超声心动图在主动脉瓣狭窄经导管主动脉瓣植入术中的应用价值

目的探讨超声心动图在主动脉瓣狭窄患者经导管主动脉瓣植入术中的作用。方法3例重度主动脉瓣瓣膜狭窄患者接受经导管主动脉瓣人工瓣膜植入术。使用PhilipS iE33型彩色多普勒超声诊断仪,配备经胸探头S5—1和经食道探头S7—2,X7—2t。超声观察内容包括明确主动脉瓣膜病变范围和程度,测量主动脉瓣环前后径,人工瓣膜植入术后瓣膜功能等。结果3例患者经导管主动脉瓣植入术均取得了成功,人工瓣膜位置稳定,常规超声心动图3例患者术前经胸超声心动图与术中经食管超声心动图诊断相符,跨瓣压差较术前明显下降,主动脉瓣瓣上流速明显下降,瓣周漏瞬时反流量平均约1．2mL。结论经导管主动脉瓣人工瓣膜植入术在治疗严重主动脉瓣瓣膜狭窄中方法可行,效果良好;超声心动图在这项工作中具有重要的辅助作用。     

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文章论述主动脉夹层(AD)、主动脉壁间血肿(出血)、主动脉穿透性溃疡的影像学诊断的进展,并讨论三者的关系,提出影像学检查在诊断和鉴别诊断中具有重要的作用。