title: Preoperative Prediction of Aortic Insufficiency During Ventricular Assist Device Treatment.
abstract: Survival rate in patients with stage D heart failure has improved significantly owing to the development of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), but aortic insufficiency (AI) still remains one of the major unsolved complications that impairs patient quality of life. There are no established treatments for AI, and preoperative prediction and prevention of AI is needed. The opening of a native aortic valve (AV) is a sufficient condition for prevention of AI, and improvement of LV ejection fraction due to LV reverse remodeling (LVRR) is essential to open a native AV. Preoperative insufficient β-blocker treatment and pulsatile flow LVAD usage are keys for LVRR, opening of an AV, and prevention of AI. The second mechanism that leads to AI is remodeling of the aortic root and degeneration of a native AV, which results from reduced pulse pressure during LVAD support. Centrifugal or pulsatile flow LVAD usage has an advantage in terms of preserving pulsatility, and may prevent AI compared with an axial pump. There is less probability of avoiding AI with sufficient β-blocker treatment, and these patients may be good candidates for concomitant surgical intervention to a native AV at the time of LVAD implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Strategy for Heart Failure, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinugawa
mesh_terms: D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis