Management of coronary artery disease in patients with aortic stenosis

An Increase in the Ratio of Brain Natriuretic Peptide to Peak Transvalvular Pressure Gradient Suggests Coexistence of Cardiovascular Complications in Elderly Aortic Stenosis Patients

The aim of this study was to differentiate between elderly aortic stenosis (AS) patients with and without cardiovascular complications (CCs).In total, 156 consecutive patients with AS aged ≥ 70 years were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups as follows: AS without CCs (group I; n = 110) and AS with CCs (group II; n = 46). Routine electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters, peak and mean transvalvular pressure gradients (TPGs), aortic valve area (AVA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and BNP/peak TPG ratio were measured.The mean ages in groups I and II were 80.4 ± 5.5 and 82.5 ± 7.2 years. Left ventricular hypertrophy was greater in group II than in group I. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions and left ventricular fractional shortening were normal in both groups. Peak and mean TPGs were greater in group II (67.2 ± 39.3 and 40.2 ± 26.4 mmHg) than in group I (52.0 ± 23.0 and 30.2 ± 13.9, both P < 0.005); however, the AVA showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. The median BNP levels were 65.9 and 433.7 pg/mL in groups I and II (P < 0.0001). A correlation between peak TPG and BNP levels was observed in both groups. The BNP/peak TPG ratio was < 3.0 in all patients of group I and ≥ 3.0 in almost all patients of group II (P< 0.0001). The area under the curve using BNP/peak TPG ratio was 0.9883.BNP and BNP/peak TPG ratio could differentiate between AS with and without CCs in elderly patients.

Novel concept of less invasive concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting avoiding full median sternotomy

In the last decades, minimally invasive procedures have been developed in the therapy of aortic valve disorders. Recently, a novel concept of minimally invasive coronary revascularization in multivessel disease via left anterior mini-thoracotomy demonstrated promising results. Full median sternotomy, as a very invasive procedure, is the standard approach in concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) and coronary bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of our study was to show that the combination of minimal invasive aortic valve replacement via upper mini-sternotomy and coronary artery bypass grafting via left anterior mini-thoracotomy is feasible to avoid full median sternotomy. From 07/2022 to 09/2022, concomitant sAVR via upper partial sternotomy and CABG via left anterior mini-thoractomy on cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest was successfully performed in six consecutive patients (6 males; 69.8 ± 7.4 [60-79] years). All patients had severe aortic stenosis (MPG 45.5 ± 17.3 mmHg) and a significant coronary artery disease (three-vessel: 33%, two-vessel: 33%, one-vessel: 33%) with indication to cardiac surgery. Mean EuroScore2 was 3.2. All patients underwent successful less invasive concomitant biological sAVR and CABG. 67% of patients received a 25 mm, 33% received a 23 mm biological aortic valve replacement (Edwards Lifesciences Perimount). A total of 11 distal anastomoses (1.8 ± 1.0 [1-3] per patient) were performed by using left internal artery mammary (50%), radial artery (17%) and saphenous venous graft (67%) for grafting the left anterior descending (83%), circumflex (67%) and right (33%) coronary artery. Hospital mortality was 0%, stroke rate was 0%, myocardial infarction was 0% and repeat revascularization rate was 0%, ICU stay was 1 day in 83% of all patients and 50% left hospital within 8 days after surgery. Less invasive concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting using upper mini-sternotomy and left anterior mini-thoracotomy is feasible without compromises in surgical principles and complete coronary revascularization while maintaining thoracic stability by avoiding full median sternotomy.