THE EFFECTS OF SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT ON ARTERIAL STIFFNESS

Abstract

Objective: Assessing arterial properties in patients with aortic valve stenosis undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is difficult, and the results to date have been inconclusive. We sought to investigate how SAVR affects vascular stiffness in the short and long term. Design and method: We included 55 patients (mean age 70 ± 8 years, 69% men) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent SAVR. Arterial stiffness was assessed using the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Measurements were conducted at baseline, in the acute phase, and 1 year after the operation. Results: Immediately after SAVR there was an increase in cfPWV (7.66 ± 1.63 m/s vs 8.27 ± 2.06 m/s, p = .010) that was sustained at 1 year (7.66 ± 1.63 m/s vs 8.98 ± 2.31 m/s, p = <.001, figure 1). Similarly, baPWV increased in the acute phase (1597 ± 455 cm/s vs 1954 ± 658 cm/s, p < .001) and persisted 1 year postoperatively (1597 ± 1833 cm/s, p < .001, figure 2). Conclusions: After SAVR the arterial system shows an increase of stiffness in response to the acute relief of the obstruction, which is retained in the long term.