Risk factors for congestive heart failure after aortic valve replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial prosthesis in the elderly

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Congestive heart failure (CHF) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) is an important cause of morbidity. The study aim was to identify preoperative risk factors for CHF. METHODS: A total of 500 consecutive patients (271 males, 229 females; median age 73 years; range: 71-77 years) was investigated retrospectively. The AVR was performed using a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve, and a total of 348 additional procedures (313 coronary artery bypass grafts; CABG) was carried out. The outcome studied was CHF, during both hospital stay and long-term follow up. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to investigate 15 risk factors. RESULTS: During the hospital stay, 13 patients developed CHF, with four fatalities. Significant risk factors for CHF included urgent operation (p = 0.031), preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.031) and NYHA functional class IV (p = 0.05). A logistic regression analysis revealed need for urgent operation (p = 0.034) as the sole factor. During long-term follow up, 43 patients developed CHF, with seven fatalities. Univariate analysis identified seven risk factors with significant effect: valve size <19 mm (p = 0.004), preoperative conduction defects (p = 0.007), chronic postoperative AF (p = 0.013), cross-clamp time >75 min (p = 0.032), NYHA class IV (p = 0.041), coronary artery disease (CAD) (p = 0.043) and additional CABG (p = 0.050). Multivariate analysis identified three risk factors: preoperative conduction defects (p = 0.004), postoperative AF (p = 0.005) and CAD (p = 0.037) CONCLUSION: Morbidity due to CHF after AVR could be minimized with correct treatment of AF and of conduction defects. Patient age, valve size, cross-clamp time and preoperative severity or symptoms were not independent risk factors. Moreover, small native aortic valve rings should not necessarily be enlarged, the cross-clamp time should be kept to a minimum, and surgery should not be delayed when symptoms have developed.     

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in elderly patients

Aortic stenosis is the most common native valve disease, affecting up to 5% of the elderly population. Surgical aortic valve replacement reduces symptoms and improves survival, and is the definitive therapy in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. However, despite the good results of classic surgery, risk is markedly increased in elderly patients with co-morbidities. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) allows implantation of a prosthetic heart valve within the diseased native aortic valve without the need for open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, offering a new therapeutic option to elderly patients considered at high surgical risk or with contraindications to surgery. To date, several multicenter registries and a randomized trial have confirmed the safety and efficacy of TAVR in those patients. In this chapter, we review the background and clinical applications of TAVR in elderly patients.     

Isolated replacement of a prosthesis or a bioprosthesis in the aortic valve position

The operative results of 203 aortic prosthetic valve reoperations performed in 175 patients from 1974 through 1986 were reviewed to identify groups at greater risk. Two to 4 reoperations were performed in 23 patients. The mean interval between the first and second valve procedures was 74 +/- 57 months. The most common indications for reoperation were thrombosis of mechanical prostheses (25%), degeneration of homografts (22%) and mechanical valve dysfunction (19%). Eighteen patients (9%) died. This mortality rate was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than that of primary valve procedures performed during the same period. Mortality rates were higher among patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (6 of 26 cases, 23%) and among those who underwent operation on an emergency basis (15 of 20, 25%). No significant correlation was found between mortality rates and the age or gender of the patients and the types of prostheses used originally.     

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.     

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.     

Determinants of survival after aortic valve replacement as treatment for symptomatic aortic valve disease in the elderly

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The effect of concurrent disease and cardiac comorbidity on survival after bioprosthetic valve replacement in elderly patients was assessed retrospectively. Risk factors were categorized as general, non-cardiac (age, diabetes, previously treated carcinoma) and cardiac (LVEF, three-vessel disease, previous CABG or valve replacement, and endocarditis). METHODS: A total of 400 elderly patients (median age 73 years; range: 71-76 years) was studied. Medical history included diabetes, previous CABG or aortic valve replacement (AVR), endocarditis and treatment of previous carcinoma. A left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of <0.66 and presence of three-vessel disease were also investigated. Hospital deaths (and cause) were recorded; survival or date and cause of death after discharge were obtained by questionnaire. Kaplan-Meier univariate and Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Mortality during follow up was 28.3%; hospital mortality was 3.8%. Univariate analysis showed five factors significantly to affect survival: LVEF, history of endocarditis, carcinoma, age and three-vessel disease. Fifteen of 38 patients with history of carcinoma died, 10 due to a malignancy. Of 76 patients with three-vessel disease, 26 died. A history of diabetes and previous CABG did not influence survival significantly. Four of eight patients with preoperative endocarditis died, all in hospital. Six of 11 patients died after redo-AVR, none before 36 months follow up. By Cox regression analysis, LVEF and histories of carcinoma and endocarditis remained significant. CONCLUSION: AVR should be performed before ventricular deterioration occurs. Previous CABG is not a contraindication for AVR. Endocarditis impaired survival. Long-term mortality after redo-AVR in this population was relatively high, but acceptable. AVR should also be performed in elderly patients with aortic valve disease. Since prognosis of symptomatic aortic valve disease is poor in the short term, AVR is indicated in patients treated for carcinoma.     

Mechanical aortic valve replacement: long-term outcomes in children

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Early and late outcomes following mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in children were analyzed. METHODS: Between January 1980 and December 2003, 55 patients underwent mechanical AVR at the authors' institution. Of these patients, 12 had aortic regurgitation (AR), 31 had aortic stenosis (AS), and 12 had mixed disease. Preoperatively, 25 patients (45.5%) were in NYHA classes III and IV. Among patients, 22 had a previous valvotomy and 19 had associated cardiac defects. Isolated AVR was performed in 37 cases. Twelve patients required root enlargement procedures, two had aortic root replacement, three had a double valve replacement, and one patient had a concurrent mitral annuloplasty. The mean prosthesis size was 22.6 mm (range: 16-31 mm). Mean follow up was 12.28 +/- 6 years (range: 1-23 years); total follow up was 665 patient-years (pt-yr). RESULTS: There was one late death. Actuarial survival at 20 years was 98 +/- 2%. Event-free survival at one, five and 20 years was 96 +/- 3%, 92 +/- 4% and 88 +/- 5%, respectively. Four patients required reoperation (two for valve outgrowth, one each for paravalvular leak and prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE)). Freedom from reintervention at one, five and 20 years was 98 +/- 2%, 96 +/- 3% and 92 +/- 4%, respectively. There was one event of anticoagulation-related hemorrhage. Freedom from anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 20 years was 98 +/- 2%, and freedom from PVE at five and 20 years was 98 +/- 2% and 96 +/- 3%, respectively. There were no instances of thromboembolism or structural valve dysfunction. Linearized rates of bleeding and endocarditis were 0.15 and 0.3% per pt-yr, respectively. At follow up, 54 children were in NYHA classes I or II. CONCLUSION: Mechanical AVR, with aortic root enlargement if necessary, is associated with low mortality and morbidity, and is an excellent treatment option in children. Late embolic and hemorrhagic complications are infrequent in the current era.     

Late results of aortic valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards prosthesis.

Details are presented concerning 59 patients who left hospital between January 1964 and January 1969 after aortic valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards prosthesis. Of the 14 late deaths, 7 are known to have been due to causes related to the prosthesis and 4 to other causes. The 45 surviving patients have nearly all shown clinical improvement and only 3 are unable to work as a result of some complication of the operation. Aortic regurgitation and its consequences appear to be the most significant factor leading to symptoms. In 11 of 16 patients with anaemia there was evidence of intravascular haemolysis. The long-term consequence of this complication is not known.     

Pulmonary autograft replacement of the bicuspid aortic valve: a successful surgical option for young adults

A severely dysfunctioning congenitally bicuspid aortic valve may require surgical treatment within the fourth decade of life. Among conventional options, the pulmonary autograft (PA) offers many theoretical advantages particularly for young patients, including potential for growth, hemodynamic performance, no need for anticoagulants and freedom from endocarditis. However the operation is more complex and longer, may interfere with coronary and right ventricular anatomy and function and may expose the patient to the downside of two valves at risk. Aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the mid-term results achieved with the PA performed in adolescents and young adults with a bicuspid aortic valve. Between July 94 and June 98, 26 patients, 22 males and four females, with a mean age of 24+/-10 years (range, 11 to 38), underwent bicuspid aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (stenosis 2-8%; insufficiency 13-50%; combined 11-42%). Eight patients (31%) were in NYHA FC I, 17 (65%) in II, and 1 (4%) in III. Mean preoperative ejection fraction was 67+/-7%. Three patients (11.5%) had a past medical history of endocarditis (healed in all) and in two the PA was a re-do procedure. The PA was inserted as a subcoronary implant in one case (4%) and utilized as a root in the remaining 25 (96%). The right ventricular outflow tract was reconstructed with a cryopreserved pulmonary homograft conduit in all cases. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic crossclamp times were 204+/-50 min (range, 174 to 300) and 157+/-35 min (range, 133 to 193) respectively. No early or late deaths had occurred at a mean follow-up of 22.5 months (range, 5 to 47.5). The first patient in the series (4%) was reexplored for bleeding and needed transfusions. The subsequent routine use medical and surgical strategies resulted in no further need for postoperative reexploration, and successful containment of total postoperative blood loss (<350 ml/m2BSA). 2-D Echo evaluation of neo-aortic valve competence at 6 months, revealed no evidence of aortic valve regurgitation in 17 (65%), trivial regurgitation in seven (27%), mild in one (4%) and mild-to-moderate in one (4%). The latter patient (subcoronary implant PA) required reoperation. At six months, the mean degree of regression of left ventricular mass compared to pre-operative data, was 36% (333+/-94 to 212+/-60 gr, p<0.05). All patients are asymptomatic, in NYHA FC I, and enjoy normal social interaction. In conclusion, PA root implantation can be offered as a low-risk alternative to conventional prosthetic aortic valve replacement to adolescents and young adults with a bicuspid aortic valve. The routine achievement of blood loss containment has minimized the risk of transfusion thus contributing to expand the indication in young patients. Continued patients evaluation particularly with regard to evidence of neo-aortic valve degeneration, root dilatation and homograft dysfunction in the long term is warranted.