[Severe calcified aortic stenosis in patients aged 80 or older. Apropos of 65 cases surgically treated]. / Le rétrécissement aortique calcifié serré de l'octogénaire. A propos de 65 cas opérés.

From 1981 to 1989, 65 patients over 80 years were submitted to surgery for severe calcific aortic stenosis. Thirteen patients were in NYHA II, 31 in NYHA III, 21 in NYHA IV. Mean valve area was 0.52 +/- 0.14 cm2 and mean aortic valve gradient was 62 +/- 18 mmHg. Left ventricular function was altered (ejection fraction less than 40%) in 33 patients. Six patients had a previous balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Bioprosthesis were used in all 65 patients associated to CABG (in 5) and mitral valve replacement (in 1). One month mortality was 19 cases (29%) due to cardiac failure (in 10) pulmonary (in 7) and neurological (in only 2) complications. Early mortality was nearly significantly correlated to NYHA stage (p = 0.08) and preop renal insufficiency (p = 0.07). It was significantly correlated to function (40% mortality when ejection fraction less than 40%, 16% in others) and to operations on emergency basis (5 deaths over 6). Hospital morbidity was 68%. There were 5 late deaths. Among the 41 long-term survivors (3 mths-7yrs) 29 are in NYHA I, 10 in NYHA II and 2 in NYHA III due to valve failure. The actuarial survival probability is 65% at one year, 50% at 5 years. In summary good long-term results justify to take a high post operative risk in octogenarians. Early surgery before left ventricular impairment improves the survival.

Severe aortic stenosis in octogenarians: is operation an acceptable alternative?

From 1981 to 1989, 60 patients more than 80 years of age were referred for operation for severe calcific aortic stenosis. All patients were symptomatic: 13 in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, 28 in class III, and 19 in class IV. The preoperative mean cardiothoracic ratio was 0.58 +/- 0.09; the mean valve area, 0.52 +/- 0.14 cm2; and the mean aortic valve gradient, 62 +/- 18 mm Hg. Left ventricular function was impaired in 30 patients (ejection fraction less than 0.40). Coronary arteriography was performed in 10 patients. Aortic replacement used bioprosthesis in all 60 patients associated with aortocoronary bypass (in 5) and mitral valve replacement (in 1). One-month mortality rate was 28% (17 patients) due to cardiac failure (in 9), pulmonary complications (in 6), and neurological complications (in 2). Early mortality was not correlated with preoperative angina, cardiothoracic ratio, associated operation, and cross-clamping time. It was not obviously correlated with preoperative functional class but correlated positively with urgent operations and with left ventricular function (40% mortality in patients with ejection fraction less than 0.40 versus 16% mortality in others). Hospital morbidity was 68%. Mean hospitalization was 15 +/- 7 days. There were four late deaths. Thirty-nine patients are long-term survivors (3 months to 7 years): 27 in class I, 10 in class II, and 2 in class III due to primary valve failure. The actuarial survival probability is 65% at 1 year and 61% at 5 years. In summary, the good long-term quality of life justifies the high postoperative risk in octogenarians. Early operation before cardiac function impairment improves the results.

Value of qualitative angiographic grading in aortic regurgitation.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of angiographic grading of regurgitation in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). In 204 adult patients (149 men, 55 women, aged 51 +/- 13 years) with AR, the forward cardiac index was measured by the indicator dilution technique, and the left ventricular angiographic index by the area length method, from which the regurgitant stroke index and the percentage of regurgitation were calculated. In 80 other patients without regurgitation, there was a good correlation between forward and angiographic cardiac indices (r = 0.83, P less than 0.001). Aortic regurgitation graded on a 1-4 scale was, in the 204 patients with AR, correlated with the percentage and the volume of regurgitation (respectively r = 0.87, P less than 0.001 and r = 0.92, P less than 0.001). The regurgitant stroke index and the percentage of regurgitation were significantly different from one group to another (P less than 0.001). However, there was a range in amount of regurgitation within each grade and an overlap from one grade to another. There were no differences in regurgitant stroke index or in the percentage of regurgitation when patients were categorized according to LV end-diastolic or endsystolic volume, LV ejection fraction, forward cardiac index or intracardiac pressure.

[Diagnosis of atrial septal defects by contrast echocardiography with sensitivity increased by coughing]. / Diagnostic des déhiscences du septum interauriculaire par l'échocardiographie de contraste sensibilisée par la toux.

The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity of contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of permanent (atrial septal defects, ASD) and transient (patent foramen ovale, PFO) interatrial communications under basal conditions, after Valsalva manoeuvres and coughing. Sixty-four patients suspected of having defects of the interatrial septum were studied. The results of echocardiography were compared with those of cardiac catheterisation, the classical method of reference. The sensitivity of contrast echocardiography was significantly improved in the diagnosis of PFO by the cough test (100%) compared with contrast echocardiography during spontaneous respiration (55%). Similarly, the cough test increased the sensitivity of contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of ASD (96% compared to 83%). The specificity was good in both cases, about 90%. The cough test was a better method (98%) than Valsalva manoeuvres (59%) for the potentiation of interatrial right-to-left shunts. The results of echocardiography and catheterisation explain the mechanism of the right-to-left shunt during spontaneous respiration, Valsalva manoeuvres and coughing. The passage of the microbubbles from the right to the left atrium occurs during early systole when the atrioventricular valves are closed. The right-to-left shunt is potentiated by provocative manoeuvres. The demonstration of a right-to-left shunt by contrast echocardiography therefore indicates the presence of an interatrial communication; our results show that this non-invasive technique is a reliable method of diagnosing ASD and PFO.