Frequency of Congenitally Bicuspid Aortic Valves in Patients ≥80 Years of Age Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis (With or Without Aortic Regurgitation) and Implications for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 109; no. 11; pp. 1632 - 1636
• Main Authors: Roberts, William Clifford, MD, Janning, Kaitlin Georgeanne, Ko, Jong Mi, BA, Filardo, Giovanni, PhD, MPH, Matter, Gregory John, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-06-2012; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Valve - abnormalities; Aortic Valve - surgery; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - epidemiology; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - surgery; Aortic Valve Stenosis - epidemiology; Aortic Valve Stenosis - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Coronary vessels; Endocardial and cardiac valvular diseases; Female; Heart; Heart surgery; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Transplants & implants; Young Adult; Human; Aortic stenosis; Cardiovascular disease; Implantation; Patient; Replacement; Aortic regurgitation; Congenital disease; Aortic valve prolapse; Cardiac valvular disease; Bicuspid aortic valve; Frequency; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Aortic valve; Age
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.01.390

The purpose of the present report was to determine the frequency of a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve in patients ≥80 years of age old with aortic stenosis (AS) severe enough to warrant aortic valve replacement. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has traditionally been reserved for patients ≥80 years of age with severe AS involving a 3-cuspid aortic valve. Traditionally, AS involving a 2-cuspid aortic valve has been a contraindication to TAVI. We examined operatively excised stenotic aortic valves in 364 patients aged ≥80 years to determine the frequency of an underlying congenitally bicuspid aortic valve. Of the 347 octogenarians and 17 nonagenarians, 78 (22%) and 3 (18%) had stenotic congenitally bicuspid aortic valves, respectively. In conclusion, because the results of TAVI are less favorable in patients with stenotic congenitally bicuspid valves than in patients with stenotic tricuspid aortic valves, proper identification of the underlying aortic valve structure is important when considering TAVI as a therapeutic procedure for AS in older patients.