Calcific aortic valve stenosis: potentials and complications of surgical treatment

Aim. The study aim is to discuss different approaches to the selection of a method of surgical correction of pronounced aortic stenosis (AS). Indications, contraindications, advantages and probable complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are considered. A description of a clinical case is given, and probable causes of unfavorable outcomes are discussed.

AS is the most common valvular disease, and its frequency increases significantly with age. It is one of the leading indications for heart surgery. A peculiarity of the clinical presentation of AS is a long asymptomatic period that varies from patient to patient. With the appearance of the first clinical manifestations, the prognosis of the disease sharply worsens. For a long time, surgical replacement of the aortic valve remained «the gold standard» of treatment of patients with symptomatic AS. An increase in the number of elderly patients and those in old age with many comorbid diseases who have received cardiopulmonary bypass is linked with an increased risk of postoperative complications, which are became a determining factor for the development of alternative methods of surgical correction of aortic valve pathology.

Conclusion. At present, TAVI has considerable advantages over surgical replacement; is a method of choice for elderly and inoperable patients as well as patients at high, intermediate, and low risk from surgery; and requires a multidisciplinary approach.