Dr.S.Venkatesan MD

Aortic stenosis is one of the commonest valvular heart disease.Degenerative, calcific aortic valve is the underlying pathology . Many of the degenerative aortic valve is thought to be  a sequel to bicuspid aortic valve .The exact incidence of BCAV  contributing to degenerative aortic  stenosis is difficult to determine as many of these leaflets  lose  it’s  identity  . Rheumatic aortic stenosis continues to be a problem in developing world.Though ,primary aortic stenosis  is the  dominant theme , some amount of aortic regurgitation is commonly observed in all these conditions.

Apart from the severity of aortic stenosis  there are two  other important factors that determine the long term outcome.

• LV function
• Associated CAD.
• Timing of surgery

Left ventricular dysfunction is a common  companion in severe aortic stenosis .Once the LV dysfunction sets in , there is a rapid decline in the clinical outcome.Some  of these patients have very severe LV dysfunction (EF< 30%) .

LV dysfunction  ,  underestimates  the true gradient across LV .  Cardiologists are  often  preoccupied with assessment of  true severity  aortic stenosis  in the presence of LV dysfunction .Sophisticated dobutamine stress echo, is supposed to help us.

Unfortunately cardiology literature has  little to offer  regarding the mechanism of  LV dysfunction in critical aortic stenosis

Some of the possibilities are

1. Sub endocardial  contractile dysfunction   due to long standing high wall stress.
2. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis , scarring , apoptosis.
3. Associated CAD and ischemic cardiomyopathy
4. Finally it could be a “Pseudo LV dysfucntion”  ie , simple mechanical stunning due to high afterload.This is a distinct possibility as some of  these   patients with  worst   LV function  recover fully following AVR.
5. Combination of the above mechanisms  can occur

How will you determine  whether , the LV dysfunction of aortic stenosis is reversible or irreversible ?  Is viability an issue in LV dysfunction associated with aortic stenosis ?

Even though it is logical to think  LV dysfunction of CAD and LV dysfunction of aortic stenosis  are similar it  may  not be so ! ( Unless the LV dysfuntion  due to obstructive coronary  disease coexists)

Following rules need to be applied in patients with AS and severe LV dysfunction.

• Every patient with critical aortic stenosis should undergo CAG.
• The question of reversible vs irreversible LV dysfunction generally need  not arise.
• There is no better way to predict the recovery of LV function other than the trial of relieving the obstruction.
• So ,all patients* irrespective of  any degree of LV dysfunction shall undergo AVR
• If there is obstructive CAD they need to be taken for AVR with CABG

*AVR  is  probably contraindicated , in  systemically ill &  co morbid patients , with grossly  dilated  ventricles. Here balloon aortic valvotomy  and  possibly PVR(Percutaneous valve replacement)  could be an answer.

Final message .

LV dysfunction of aortic stenosis is a poorly understood phenomenon. Since it is very difficult  to predict whether it’s reversible or irreversible , real world clinical experience  would suggest there is no need to predict it at all !  and every one should have AVR  irrespective of their LV function.