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Review
. 2019 Jan-Mar;22(1):1-5.
doi: 10.4103/aca.ACA_226_17.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction following aortic valve replacement: A review of risk factors, mechanism, and management

Neeti Makhija  1 , Rohan Magoon  1 , Ira Balakrishnan  1 , Sambhunath Das  1 , Vishwas Malik  1 , Parag Gharde  1
Affiliations
Review

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction following aortic valve replacement: A review of risk factors, mechanism, and management

Neeti Makhija et al. Ann Card Anaesth. 2019 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

The presence of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) can complicate the postoperative course of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). The phenomenon of LVOTO is a consequence of an interplay of various pathoanatomic mechanisms. The prevailing cardiovascular milieu dictates the hemodynamic significance of the resultant LVOTO in addition to the anatomical risk factors. A thorough understanding of the predisposing factors, mechanism, and hemodynamic sequel of the obstruction is pivotal in managing these cases. A comprehensive echocardiographic examination aids in risk prediction, diagnosis, severity characterization, and follow-up of management efficacy in the setting of postoperative LVOTO. The armamentarium of management modalities includes conservative (medical) and surgical options. A stepwise approach should be formulated based on the physiological and anatomical substrates predisposing to LVOTO. The index phenomenon occurs more frequently than appreciated and should be considered when the post-AVR patients exhibit hemodynamic instability unresponsive to conventional supportive measures. The present article provides an overview of various peculiarities of this under-recognized phenomenon in the context of the perioperative management of patients undergoing AVR.

Keywords: Aortic valve replacement; asymmetrical septal hypertrophy; left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; mitral systolic anterior motion.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Echocardiographic findings which anatomically, physiologically, or geometrically predispose a post aortic valve replacement patient to the development of LVOTO. LVOTO: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, ASH: Asymmetric septal hypertrophy, LVOT: Left ventricular outflow tract, LV: Left ventricle, AML: Anterior mitral leaflet, PML: Posterior mitral leaflet
Figure 2
Figure 2
A midesophageal aortic valve long-axis TEE view at 120° showing the hypertrophied interventricular septum predisposing a patient of severe AS to midcavity obstruction. TEE: Transesophageal echocardiography, AS: Aortic stenosis, MV: Mitral valve, Ao: Aorta
Figure 3
Figure 3
A midesophageal long-axis transesophageal echocardiography view at 120° depicting a normal C-sept distance (a) and a markedly reduced C-sept distance (b) in a patient with septal hypertrophy. C: Coaptation of mitral valve leaflets, Sept: Interventricular septum
Figure 4
Figure 4
A midesophageal aortic valve long-axis TEE view at 120° demonstrating turbulent flow in the LVOT resulting from the combination of SAM and midventricular hypertrophy, with the resultant mitral regurgitation, in a case of post-AVR patient for predominant AS. TEE: Transesophageal echocardiography, LVOT: Left ventricular outflow tract, SAM: Systolic anterior motion, AVR: Aortic valve replacement, AS: Aortic stenosis, LVOTO: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Figure 5
Figure 5
A deep transgastric TEE view at 106° demonstrating a “dagger”-shaped continuous-wave Doppler profile across the LVOT with a characteristic late systolic peaking, in a case of post-AVR patient for predominant AS. TEE: Transesophageal echocardiography, LVOT: Left ventricular outflow tract, AVR: Aortic valve replacement, AS: Aortic stenosis
Figure 6
Figure 6
The figure showing the distinguishing features of a valvular gradient (a) and a subvalvular LVOT gradient (b) on continuous-wave Doppler profile, wherein a symmetrical envelope (a) characterizes a valvular obstruction and a “dagger”-shaped envelope (b) signifies a LVOTO, with the gradients peaking in late systole. LVOTO: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
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