Although stentless aortic bioprostheses are associated in general with excellent hemodynamics, a subset of patients exhibit high early postoperative gradients. The present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and impact of suboptimal hemodynamics early after stentless tissue aortic valve replacement. The early postoperative peak transvalvular to peak left ventricular (LV) outflow tract velocity ratio was > or = 3.0 in 44 (6.7%) of 658 patients in the multicenter, long-term study of the Freestyle stentless aortic valve. Mean gradient, effective orifice area (EOA), and LV mass index were compared between these patients and a control group of 44 patients matched for age, sex, valve size, and implant technique. High velocity ratio was associated with female sex (63.6% v 42.8%, P =.01), smaller valve size (77.3% v 45.3%, < or = 23 mm, P =.0004), and use of the modified subcoronary rather than full root implant technique (90.9% v 70.2% modified subcoronary, P =.01). Mean gradient was significantly higher (P <.05) and EOA lower (P <.05) early postoperative and throughout follow-up among patients with high velocity ratio. LV mass index decreased across time among both groups; patients with high velocity ratio tended to have higher LV mass index with less complete LV mass regression, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, there was a 6.7% incidence of hemodynamics suggestive of significant aortic stenosis early after implantation of a Freestyle stentless aortic valve. Gradients decreased and EOA increased in the first months after surgery, although they remained less favorable. Multiple factors likely play a role in early suboptimal hemodynamics following stentless tissue aortic valve replacement, including factors related to patient population, valve size, implant modality, and implant technique.
Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company