title: When does asymptomatic aortic stenosis warrant surgery? Assessment techniques.
abstract: Asymptomatic but hemodynamically severe aortic stenosis often poses a dilemma: should the aortic valve be replaced, or is watchful waiting acceptable? Patients with this condition are a diverse group with varying prognoses. Here, we review the guidelines for valve replacement in this situation and highlight the variables useful in establishing which patients should be considered for early intervention even if they have no symptoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Director of Sports Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. E-mail: pheland@ccf.org.|Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: Section Head of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057832:Watchful Waiting / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*