Low flow low gradient aortic stenosis resident survival guide
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2]
Overview
When severe systolic and/or diastolic myocardial dysfunction coexist with aortic stenosis, there is a decrease in the flow through the valve leading to a prominent decrease in the transvalvular gradient, a condition referred to as low flow low gradient aortic stenosis (LF-LG AS). LF-LG AS with is defined as:
- An aortic valve areas < 1.0 cm2, and
- A mean pressure difference or gradient across the aortic valve of < 40 mm Hg
Management
Shown below is an algorithm of the management of low flow, low gradient aortic stenosis.[1]
| Ultrasound evaluation of aortic stenosis Effective orifice area (EOA)≤ 1 cm2 Pressure gradient (ΔP)<40 mmHg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Low grade low flow aortic stenosis | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Normal left ventricular ejection fraction | Left ventricular ejection fraction≤ 40-50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| No specific recommendations: - Surgical AVR, or - Transcather AVR, or - Medical treatment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dobutamine stress test | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase in stroke volume by ≥ 20% | Increase in stroke volume by <20% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presence of left ventricular flow reserve | Absence of left ventricular flow reserve | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ΔP≥40 EOA<1-1.2 | ΔP<40 EOA≥1-1.2 | EOA<1-1.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| True severe aortic stenosis | Pseudo-severe aortic stenosis | True severe aortic stenosis | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Surgical AVR with/without CABG | Medical treatment Close follow up | Transcather AVR | |||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ Pibarot P, Dumesnil JG (2012). "Low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis with normal and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction". J Am Coll Cardiol. 60 (19): 1845–53. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.06.051. PMID 23062546.