ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Manual decalcification of the aortic valve was performed systematically in a prospective series of patients with asymptomatic moderate aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study addressed two main issues: (i) whether aortic valve decalcification is a good option to relieve moderate AS; and (ii) whether the natural progression of AS may be delayed by manual valve debridement when surgery is indicated for coronary disease. METHODS: Between October 1997 and March 2001, 14 adult patients with moderate AS underwent concomitant surgical repair of the aortic valve during CABG. Manual valve debridement with restoration of cusp mobility was attempted. Calcified deposits were removed by careful dissection. All patients underwent myocardial revascularization; a mean of 2.38 grafts was performed per patient. RESULTS: Immediately after surgery, mean aortic valve area index (AVAI) was improved, from 0.56+/-0.12 to 1.43+/-0.25 cm2/m2. Patients with the slowest recalcification rates were those with a postoperative/preoperative AVAI ratio of 1.6 to 2.4, those in whom the degree of postoperative aortic insufficiency was very similar to the degree of preoperative regurgitation, and those in whom the preoperative AVAI was >0.55 cm2/m2. CONCLUSION: Manual aortic valve debridement for moderate AS is a good option when surgery must be performed for coronary disease; the best results were obtained in patients with senile stenosis of a tricuspid aortic valve with an AVAI of 0.55-0.9 cm2/m2.