Aortic valve replacement in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Aortic valve replacement in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
Creators Name:	Schulz, O., Brala, D., Bensch, R., Kraemer, J., Schulz-Menger, J., Berghoefer, G. and Schimke, I.
Abstract:	Background and aim of the study: Patients with moderate-severe aortic stenosis (AS) who maintain that they have no symptoms pose a decision-making dilemma. In order to determine whether or not preoperative symptoms were related to outcomes in these patients, results were compared after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic and symptomatic AS patients with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: Twenty asymptomatic and 18 symptomatic AS patients were investigated retrospectively, with clinical and echocardiographic studies being performed before and at 610 ± 409 days after AVR. The patients’ cardiopulmonary function was monitored using spiroergometry. Results: Symptomatic AS patients improved their exercise tolerance after surgery more than asymptomatic patients, although exercise tolerance and LVEF remained lower in symptomatic patients. On comparing all postoperative objective changes between the groups, a difference was observed only for aortic valve area index. Improvements in left ventricular structure, diastolic function, and filling pressures after AVR were similar in both groups. Systolic function, as assessed by tissue Doppler, was improved only in the symptomatic group. Regression analyses identified preoperative exercise tolerance as the strongest independent determinant of postoperative functional outcome. The postoperative LVEF was independently predicted by the preoperative LVEF and exercise tolerance. Conclusion: Asymptomatic patients with moderate-severe AS and preserved systolic function exhibited similar improvements in cardiac remodeling, diastolic function, and filling pressures following AVR, compared to symptomatic patients. Differences in exercise tolerance and systolic function observed preoperatively between these groups were decreased after AVR.
Keywords:	Aortic Valve, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Echocardiography, Exercise Tolerance, Heart Function Tests, Heart Valve Prosthesis, Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome
Source:	Journal of Heart Valve Disease
ISSN:	0966-8519
Publisher:	ICR Publishers
Volume:	21
Number:	5
Page Range:	576-583
Date:	September 2012
Official Publication:	http://www.icr-heart.com/?cid=2678
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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