PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

[Congenital heart defects in the adult: towards nonsurgical interventionism].

The classical treatment for congenital heart defects in adult patients has been surgical correction. Since the publication of Rashkind and Gruntzig's studies, interventional cardiology approaches have been developed to treat congenital and acquired heart defects. We discuss the current applications of this form of treatment and communicate our experience with percutaneous transcatheter procedures in adult patients for pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, native coarctation, postsurgical coarctation, peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, ductus arteriosus and embolization therapy. We conclude that interventional treatment in adults with congenital heart defects is safe and feasible, that the indications for this approach to treatment are increasing, that it can be undertaken in patients of any age including high-risk patients, and that as with all interventional procedures, the learning curve must be successfully surmounted.

Adult↗

[Autosomal dominant Mendelian midline complex. Secundum atrial septal defect associated with cardiac and facial-thoracic defects. A familial case].

The kindred of 38 individuals reported here have various anomalies: 1. facio-thoracic malformations: hypertelorism, nasal deviation, cleft lip and palate, upper-incisors diastema and pectus excavatum; 2. cardiac anomalies: sinus node bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, nodal rhythm, atrial septal defect. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, low insertion of the septal tricuspid valve corresponding to an Ebstein syndrome, pulmonic "en dôme" valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, long QT, and intraventricular conduction blocks. Almost all these defects are septal or para-septal. Mitral stenosis is probably rheumatoid. Such median varied pathology has not been yet reported. All the extra-cardiac anomalies are situated along the vertical upper half-body midline. All cardiac anomalies are in the septal or para-septal region. It is an autosomal dominant trait that implies the early embryonic development of the midline of cardiac and extra-cardiac structures.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Multislice computed tomography for detection of patients with aortic valve stenosis and quantification of severity.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether multislice computed tomography (MSCT) provides a reliable, noninvasive imaging modality for identification of patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis (AS) by quantifying the aortic valve area (AVA) in comparison to the accepted diagnostic standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). BACKGROUND: Management of patients with degenerative AS is based on the severity of disease. The severity of AS in clinical practice is assessed by TTE and classified as mild, moderate, or severe according to the AVA. METHODS: Forty-six patients were examined with contrast-enhanced, electrocardiogram-gated, 16-row MSCT for the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy. In 30 patients, quantification of the AVA with MSCT was compared to TTE using the continuity equation with Doppler velocity-time integral for calculation of the AVA. RESULTS: Sensitivity of MSCT for the identification of patients with degenerative AS was 100%, and the specificity was 93.7%. Thirty of 46 patients had AS determined by TTE. Quantification of AVA by MSCT (mean AVA = 0.94 cm2) in patients with AS showed a good correlation to TTE (r = 0.89; p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plot illustrated good intermodality agreement between the two methods (limits of agreement, 0.20; 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Multislice computed tomography may provide an accurate, noninvasive imaging technique for detection of patients with AS and quantification of AVA.

Aged↗

In-vivo analysis of the instantaneous transvalvular pressure difference-flow relationship in aortic valve stenosis: implications of unsteady fluid-dynamics for the clinical assessment of disease severity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Because the hemodynamic basis of aortic valve area (AVA) has never been validated in vivo, several alternative indices have been proposed to quantify the severity of aortic stenosis (AS). This study was designed to assess the fluid-dynamics of aortic valve stenosis in order to clarify which index best accounts for disease severity. The diagnostic implications of reversed deltaP during ejection were also investigated. METHODS: Chronic valvular AS characterized by stiff leaflets without commissural fusion was created surgically in eight adult mongrel dogs; three additional animals were used as controls. At two-week intervals (three studies per dog), simultaneous micromanometer pressure and transit-time Q measurements were collected under different hemodynamic conditions. Instantaneous deltaP and Q signals were processed digitally and fitted to a modified form of the unsteady Bernoulli equation in which AS is characterized by effective valve area. RESULTS: An unsteady Bernoulli equation accurately predicted measured instantaneous AP values (R = 0.97+/-0.06), and a quadratic correlation was observed between instantaneously fitted and Gorlin-derived AVA. Additionally, deltaP < 0 mmHg during late ejection was observed in the majority of AS datasets, with a normalized time to deltaP reversal of 93+/-13% for AS animals versus 69+/-36% for controls (p <0.0005). Time to deltaP reversal inversely correlated with the Strouhal number (R = -0.77), and was responsible for an overestimation of mean systolic transvalvular deltaP and Q that resulted in a significant bias in the Gorlin method. Error was highest in moderate stenosis with low transvalvular output. CONCLUSION: Unsteady fluid-dynamics supports AVA over other measures of AS such as aortic valve resistance. However importantly, late-ejection reversal of deltaP precludes estimating the systolic ejection period from pressure tracings, and accounts for an additional source of error when AS is quantified invasively.

Animals↗

Changes in phasic coronary blood flow velocity profile in relation to changes in hemodynamic parameters during stress in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in phasic coronary flow profile have been demonstrated at rest in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) but have never been studied under conditions of hemodynamic stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with significant pure AVS (21 with exertional symptoms [group 1], 13 asymptomatic [group 2]) and 9 control subjects (group 3), all with normal coronary arteries, were studied successively at rest, during rapid atrial pacing, and after dobutamine infusion (5 to 30 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 i.v.) by proximal left anterior descending (LAD) intracoronary Doppler flow velocimetry concomitant with hemodynamic measurements. Systolic retrograde coronary flow velocity (CFV) was recorded only in patients with AVS, and its resting peak value was positively correlated with peak aortic pressure gradient (APG) (r = .63, P < .001). In group 1, there was lower aortic valve area (0.58 +/- 0.10 versus 0.75 +/- 0.08 cm2, P < .001) and higher resting APG and peak systolic retrograde CFV than in group 2, and also higher resting peak diastolic and mean CFV than in groups 2 and 3. In the two AVS groups, there were no changes from rest in APG and retrograde CFV at peak pacing rate; however, these parameters increased concomitantly and significantly at peak dobutamine stress. The ratio of the resting systolic to diastolic CFV curve area was inversely correlated with mean APG (r = -.54, P < .001); it was significantly lower in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (0.19 +/- 0.07 versus 0.29 +/- 0.10 and 0.30 +/- 0.04, respectively, both P < .005) and increased at peak pacing (group 1, to 0.29 +/- 0.14; group 2, to 0.39 +/- 0.12; group 3, to 0.38 +/- 0.07; all P < .001). At peak dobutamine stress, it decreased in patients with AVS (group 1, to 0.05 +/- 0.05; group 2, to 0.08 +/- 0.03; both P < .001) but did not change in group 3 (0.25 +/- 0.05). From rest to peak dobutamine stress, in both AVS groups there was increased retrograde systolic (group 1, 441 +/- 483%; group 2, 681 +/- 356%; both P < .001), decreased total systolic (group 1, -66 +/- 25%, P < .001; group 2, -19 +/- 24%; P = NS), and increased diastolic (group 1, 33.4 +/- 31.7%; group 2, 197.7 +/- 105.1%; both P < .001; group 1 versus group 2, P < .001) CFV curve area. In contrast, group 3 showed comparable increases in both systolic (143.5 +/- 44.4%) and diastolic (197.1 +/- 75.2%) CFV area (both P < .001). The stress-induced increases in the mean CFV and blood flow exceeded or were comparable with the concomitant increases in the estimated myocardial metabolic demand in groups 2 and 3 but were significantly lower in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Stress-induced changes in LAD phasic CFV profile differ significantly between patients with and without AVS. In AVS, these changes are closely related to the concomitant stress-induced changes in hemodynamic parameters.

Aged↗

[Echocardiography in the diagnosis of severe aortic valve stenosis in adults].

A series of 45 adults with severe valvular aortic stenosis underwent echocardiographic examination before surgery. The echocardiographic indices of the severity of the stenosis were reviewed: In M mode: aortic valve opening was only clearly defined and quantifiable in 22 out of 45 cases. In these 22 cases, the separation of the valves was variable in 9 cases; the stenosis was underestimated in 2 cases both of which were unsuspected bicuspid valves; the stenosis were overestimated in 1 case leading to an erroneous diagnosis. In 2D: aortic valve opening was easier to detect than in M mode; it was quantifiable in 16 out of 21 patients (80 p. 100). The subcostal view was particularly valuable in patients with chronic pulmonary disease or with barrel-shaped chests. The 2D examination however, suffers from the same limitations as M mode: variability in the values of aortic valve opening in a third of cases and a general tendency to overestimate the severity of the stenosis. In two cases an erroneous diagnosis of severe stenosis was made in cases of simple aortic sclerosis either because of the inability to visualise a mobile 3rd left anterior cusp in the long axis view or because of artefact due to paravalvular calcification. The most reliable index of severity was the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall: this measurement was never less than 13 mm, with a mean value of 15,8 +/- 1,8 mm in the 43 patients in whom it was measured. The measurement was also of prognostic significance; paradoxical thinning of the posterior wall and septum was a poor prognostic sign which was associated with cardiac failure and passive dilatation of the left ventricle sometimes shortly preceding sudden death. In the absence of cardiac failure, a posterior wall thickness of less than 13 mm excludes surgical aortic stenosis.

Adult↗

Leakage of cardiac troponin I in aortic valve stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Degeneration and death of cardiomyocytes contribute to the genesis of heart failure (HF) in aortic valve stenosis (AS). We studied whether the ongoing myocyte damage in AS can be detected from circulating cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional cohort study in a university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We examined 131 adult patients undergoing echocardiography and cardiac catheterization for isolated AS. Blood was sampled from the aortic root and, in a subset of 49 patients, also from the coronary sinus for the determination of cTnI using a sensitive immunoanalysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (56%) had detectable aortic cTnI (> or =5 ng L(-1)) with 30 of them (23% of the total group) having cTnI above the reference limit in healthy subjects (>14 ng L(-1)). Patients with detectable cTnI had a higher prevalence of HF than those with undetectable cTnI (42% vs. 19%, P = 0.004). Plasma cTnI rose from the aorta to the coronary sinus by > or =5 ng L(-1) in 13 of 49 patients with AS (27%) versus in none of 12 control patients free of structural heart disease (P = 0.044). AS patients with transcardiac cTnI gradients > or =5 ng L(-1) had lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions than AS patients with gradients <5 ng L(-1) (mean +/- SD, 52 +/- 14% vs. 61 +/- 11%; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Detectable circulating cTnI is not uncommon in AS and shows a moderate association with the presence of HF. Leakage of cTnI into the coronary sinus associates with impairment of LV systolic function. Monitoring cTnI could provide a means to expose incipient clinical deterioration in AS.

Aged↗

Echocardiographic estimation of critical left ventricular size in infants with isolated aortic valve stenosis.

With the current trend to performing surgical valvotomy for infantile aortic stenosis without cardiac catheterization, there is a need to develop echocardiographic criteria for adequacy of left ventricular size. The echocardiograms and catheterization data of all 25 infants less than 3 months of age undergoing aortic valvotomy for isolated aortic valve stenosis from September 1980 through July 1990 were reviewed. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) between the survivors and nonsurvivors were noted for age at operation (30 +/- 28 vs. 3 +/- 1.5 days), mitral valve diameter (10.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 7.7 +/- 1.5 mm), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (18.4 +/- 6.4 vs. 11.4 +/- 3 mm), left atrial dimensions (15.3 +/- 3.8 vs. 10 +/- 2.4 mm), left ventricular cross-sectional area on the parasternal long-axis echocardiogram (4 +/- 1.9 vs. 2 +/- 1.9 cm2) and angiographically determined left ventricular end-diastolic volume (43 +/- 23 vs. 11 +/- 5 ml/m2). There was no difference with respect to patient weight, body surface area, aortic root dimension or left ventricular ejection fraction. Left ventricular cross-sectional area less than 2 cm2 as measured on the parasternal long-axis echocardiogram was found in 5 of 7 nonsurvivors and 0 of 12 survivors, making this a risk factor for perioperative death (p less than 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 13 mm was found in 5 of 6 nonsurvivors and 2 of 17 survivors, making this another risk factor for early mortality (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aortic Valve↗

Balloon dilation of congenital aortic valve stenosis. Results and influence of technical and morphological features on outcome.

We evaluated dilation technique (n = 80) and aortic valve morphology by two-dimensional echocardiography (n = 58) in patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis to determine their influence on outcome. Patients' age (9 +/- 9 years; range, 1 day-39 years) and a history of surgical valvotomy did not influence outcome. The number of dilating balloons (one vs. two) and balloon: annulus ratio based on the largest balloon used in each case (97 +/- 12%; range, 71-133%) did not demonstrably influence the percent reduction in valvar gradient. In contrast, with a balloon: annulus ratio greater than 100%, the incidence (26%) of significant, dilation-induced aortic regurgitation was higher than occurred when the ratio was equal to or less than 100% (11%). Fifty bicommissural and eight unicommissural valves were identified echocardiographically. Relief of obstruction was associated with apparent commissural division in 24 of 32 patients with suitable postdilation studies. The sites of fusion and stenosis relief did not influence percent reduction in valvar gradient. Substantial increases in aortic regurgitation (greater than three of five grades) occurred in three of eight unicommissural and one of 50 bicommissural valves. The presence of a thick valve was associated with a slightly lower gradient reduction (53 +/- 12%) than thin and pliant valves (63 +/- 24%) (p greater than 0.05). Unlike all other congenital lesions we have studied, dilation technique and balloon size appeared to have a lesser influence on percent reduction in valvar gradient in congenital aortic stenosis, although balloon: annulus ratio influences the increase in aortic regurgitation. Valve morphology appears to assist with predicting the outcome of dilation.

Adolescent↗

[Significant aortic valve stenosis in the prenatal period--diagnosis, treatment, outcome. Two-center study].

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective analysis of the spectrum of fetal aortic valve stenosis with completed neonatal follow-up. METHODS: Fetal echocardiograms of 12 fetuses with aortic stenosis (AS) were analyzed. Mean gestational age at the time of diagnosis was 29.6 weeks. RESULTS: In all 12 cases critical AS has been detected. The left ventricle was estimated as small in three cases, in 7 cases as enlarged and hypokinetic LV (SF<28%) and in the next two cases the LV was well formed. In 6 AS cases, endocardial fibro-elastosis has been detected. Six fetuses presented mitral valve insufficiency; in three cases small LV mitral valve stenosis was diagnosed. Cardiomegaly occurred in 7 cases, including 5 cases with HA/CA > 0.5. Hypoplastic aorta has been detected in 2 cases and in one coarctation of the aorta. Retrograde flow in aortic arch and poor left ventricular function was diagnosed in ten cases. In 2 fetuses extracardiac malformations were present: hydrocephalus and pylorostenosis. In 83% of the cases CS had been performed and 17% were delivered vaginally (2 intrauterine fetal deaths). Four neonates had been qualified to percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, in three cardiac surgery had been performed. Three neonates with AS (25%) survived--two after valvuloplasty (one of them required also cardiac surgery) and one after Norwood procedure. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Poor prognostic factors for neonates with critical fetal AS were as follows: small LV, retrograde flow in aortic arch, poor left ventricular function and presence of extracardiac anomalies. 2. Neonates who survived with fetal SA, had isolated CHD and well formed LV (also with endocardial fibroelastosis).

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗

Endarterectomy for calcified porcelain aorta associated with aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: A calcified porcelain aorta may complicate aortic valve insertion and require an alternative, more complex method for valve replacement. The reason for this is that sutures cannot be inserted through the calcific plates in the annulus and ascending aorta. METHODS: In 6 patients with an average age of 73.8 years (range, 65 to 81 years), we performed the simpler procedure of aortic endarterectomy of the calcific plates with the aortic valve replacement. We realized that there may be an increased risk of postoperative complications, particularly stroke. The calcific plates were fractured to allow debridement of the calcium. In addition, an end-arterectomy was performed of the left main coronary ostium in 2 patients, and 5 patients also had coronary artery bypass grafting performed. RESULTS: All 6 patients underwent successful operations without major complications. On follow-up, echocardiography or computed tomographic scans in 3 patients have not shown dilation of the ascending aorta. CONCLUSION: Endarterectomy of the aorta may be an option in the management of patients with calcification of the aorta.

Aged↗

Transvalvular Flow Rate is Associated With Mortality Rate and Lifetime Loss in Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Time-to-Event Data.

Low-flow states are associated with adverse outcomes in aortic stenosis (AS), but the prognostic value of transvalvular flow rate (TFR) has not been consistently established across studies. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies (published by November 14, 2025) comparing low versus normal TFR in AS. Data were collected from Kaplan-Meier curves. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Survival was assessed using pooled Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression, flexible parametric survival models, and restricted mean survival time (RMST) analysis. A total of 9 studies including 6,494 patients were analyzed; 2,575 (39.7%) had low TFR. At 8 years of follow-up, estimated survival was 34.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.7% to 47%) in the low-TFR group and 63% (95% CI 58.9% to 67.4%) in the normal-TFR group. Low TFR was associated with higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.74, p < 0.001). We observed a progressively greater hazard over time, with the hazard ratio approaching 1.9 by 8 years. At 8 years, RMST in the normal-TFR group was 7.37 years (95% CI 7.21 to 7.53 years) versus 5.07 years (95% CI 4.91 to 5.23 years) in the low-TFR group, representing a lifetime loss of 2.3 years in the low-TFR group (&#x394;RMST -2.30 years, 95% CI -2.53 to -2.07 years, p < 0.001). In patients with AS, low TFR is associated with significantly higher mortality and lifetime loss. These findings support TFR as a clinically meaningful marker for risk stratification in AS.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗

Aortic valve stenosis: comparison of patients with to those without chronic congestive heart failure.

Eighty-four patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) and without other valvular or coronary artery disease were studied to investigate the pathophysiologic importance of hemodynamic and functional factors in the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). Thirty had clinical and radiographic signs of CHF. There was no significant difference between patients with and those without CHF in aortic valve index (0.26 +/- 0.09 vs 0.34 +/- 0.16 cm2/m2), mean aortic valve gradient (64 +/- 19 vs 59 +/- 25 mm Hg), left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure (201 +/- 31 vs 201 +/- 35 mm Hg), LV end-diastolic diameter (4.8 +/- 1.0 vs 4.4 +/- 0.7 cm) or posterior LV wall thickness (14.0 +/- 4.7 vs 15.0 +/- 30.0 mm). Patients with CHF had higher LV end-diastolic pressure (22 +/- 10 vs 16 +/- 7 mm Hg, p less than 0.005) and LV wall stress (370 +/- 138 vs 300 +/- 69 g/cm2, p less than 0.005) and lower cardiac index (2.0 +/- 0.5 vs 2.4 +/- 0.6 liters/min/m2, p less than 0.005) and LV ejection fraction (55 +/- 18 vs 68 +/- 13%, p less than 0.0005). An inverse linear relation (r = -0.59, p less than 0.01) was present between LV wall stress and LV ejection fraction such that as stress increased, LV ejection fraction fell. Values for both LV wall stress and LV ejection fraction overlapped considerably between the groups and, more important, only 40% of patients with CHF had a depressed LV ejection fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Neonatal isolated critical aortic valve stenosis: balloon valvuloplasty or surgical valvotomy.

BACKGROUND: Open surgical valvotomy and transcatheter balloon valvuloplasty are recognised treatments for neonatal critical aortic stenosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of all newborns with critical aortic valve stenosis between 1990 and 2000 presenting to a tertiary centre and who required intervention. The initial catheter and surgical intervention was generally based on the preference of the attending cardiologist and the anatomy of the aortic valve and in consultation with the cardiothoracic surgeon. The two groups were therefore not strictly comparable. Twelve were subjected to balloon valvuloplasty and thirteen to surgical valvotomy at a median age of 11 days (2-42 days) and 3.5 days (1-19 days) respectively. There was no significant difference in the timing of the procedure, weight of the infant, aortic annulus or left ventricular dimensions in either group. RESULTS: There was one unrelated hospital death in the balloon group compared to two in the surgical group both of whom had endocardial fibroelastosis. Mild to moderate aortic regurgitation was seen after both procedures. Four patients in the balloon valvuloplasty group, developed femoral artery thrombosis and two had cardiac perforation that resolved with non operative management. The mean Doppler gradient was reduced from 44+/-14 mmHg to 13.4+/-5 mmHg (p<0.01) in the valvuloplasty group compared to a reduction from 42+/-15 mmHg to 27+/-8 mmHg (p<0.05) in the surgical group. Five patients in the balloon group required re-intervention within 3 weeks to 21 months after the initial procedure. Two patients in the surgical group required a pulmonary autograft and Konno Procedure 3 and 5 years following surgical valvotomy. CONCLUSION: Both aortic valvuloplasty and valvotomy offered effective short and medium term palliation. Balloon valvuloplasty patients had a higher re-intervention rate but shorter hospital and intensive care stay, reduced immediate morbidity and were associated with less severe aortic regurgitation.

Aortic Valve↗

Effect of aortic valve stenosis (pressure overload) and regurgitation (volume overload) on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

In secondary hypertrophy from chronic pressure or volume overload, or both, systolic as well as diastolic abnormalities of left ventricular (LV) function have been described, but their relation has not been defined. In 58 patients with aortic valve disease (28 with aortic valve stenosis, and 30 with aortic regurgitation) and in 11 control subjects, LV biplane cineangiography was performed simultaneously with LV high-fidelity pressure measurements. LV ejection performance was assessed by ejection fraction, and diastolic function by the time constant of LV pressure decay, the early and late peak filling rates, and the constants of chamber (pressure-volume relation) and myocardial stiffness (stress-strain relation). In the entire cohort (n = 69), ejection fraction was inversely related to the time constant of LV relaxation (r = -0.58, p less than 0.001) and to the constant of myocardial stiffness (r = -0.62, p less than 0.001). Despite preserved systolic contractile function (as evaluated from the ejection fraction-mean systolic stress relation), abnormalities in LV diastolic function were present in 9 of 18 patients with pressure overload and 20 of 22 with volume overload. None of the 58 patients with aortic valve disease had a reduced early peak filling rate, whereas a reduction in late peak filling rate was observed in 3 with aortic stenosis, but in none with aortic regurgitation. This, it appears that abnormalities of relaxation and passive diastolic myocardial stiffness precede alterations in myocardial contractility. Assessment of peak filling rates is not helpful to detect diastolic dysfunction in patients with aortic valve disease.

Adolescent↗

[Surgery of aortic valve stenosis with porcelain aorta under hypothermic circulatory arrest].

This is a case report of a 52 year-old male patient with severe calcific aortic valve stenosis, associated with extended circular calcification of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. Six months ago the patient underwent an explorative sternotomy in another institute, but the aortic valve replacement was not performed regarding the great risk of the porcelain aorta. The patient's complaints became more severe, so the authors recommended the excision both of the stenotic aortic valve and the calcified ascending aorta and replacement with a mechanical valve and vascular prosthesis. The operation was performed in deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest with help of cardiopulmonary bypass. The calcified ascending aorta was excised without crossclamping. The vascular graft used for replacement of the ascending aorta was anastomosed to the proximal part of the aortic arch, then it was clamped and the extracorporal circulation was started again with rewarming of the patient. The aortic valve was replaced with a 21 mm St. Jude HP mechanical valve prosthesis in the usual manner. At last, the graft was anastomosed supracoronary to the proximal stump of the ascending aorta. Extracorporal circulation was discontinued without any difficulties. Apart from a few days of somnolence, the patient's recovery was uneventful, he was discharged from hospital on the 12th postoperative day. Three months after the surgery he had no complaints and returned to work without any problems.

Aorta↗

[Congenital aortic valve stenosis treated by dilatation. Apropos of a case with hemodynamic control 12 months later].

Intraluminal dilatation of congenital aortic valve stenosis was attempted in a 14-year old boy. Significant improvement was obtained, with a fall in transaortic gradient from 80 to 30 mmHg. A control haemodynamic examination performed 12 months later confirmed that the result was stable; there was no aortic leakage, and myocardial hypertrophy had begun to regress at echocardiography. This case is of interest in that dilatation is less costly than surgical commissurotomy. However, this technique cannot be widely used until satisfactory long-term results have been demonstrated in a large population of children.

Adolescent↗

Axillary artery approach for balloon valvoplasty in young infants with severe aortic valve stenosis: medium-term results.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility and results of trans-axillary approach for balloon aortic valvoplasty (BAV) in early infancy. BACKGROUND: Severe aortic valve stenosis (SAVS) is rare but serious condition in infancy, which may be promptly treated either by surgical aortic valvotomy or BAV. BAV is usually performed via the femoral artery route, which is associated with significant vascular complications and long procedure times. METHODS: BAV via the trans-axillary approach was performed on twenty-seven sequential infants with SAVS presenting to a single tertiary referral center over an 11-year period. Maximum inflated balloon size was less than or equal to the aortic valve diameter. RESULTS: Twenty-seven infants aged 1-77 days underwent BAV. Weight at time of procedure was 2.0-4.42 kgs. The median procedure and screening times were 82 and 7.9 minutes, respectively. Mean instantaneous Doppler gradient across the aortic valve reduced from 68 +/- 33 to 37 +/- 14 mmHg ( p < 0.0001). Three infants developed at least moderate aortic regurgitation. Right arm pulse volume was decreased in 12 infants; 5 received an intravenous heparin infusion. Longer-term follow-up demonstrated reduced or absent peripheral pulse in 5 infants. Transection of the axillary artery occurred in one infant requiring emergency microvascular repair. There was one post-procedural and one late death due to non-cardiac causes. CONCLUSIONS: In early infancy balloon aortic valvoplasty via the axillary artery approach for severe aortic stenosis is an acceptable and safe alternative to the femoral arterial approach and results in short procedure and screening times. Longer-term vascular follow-up is required. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗