Aortic valve repair or replacement

Aortic valve repair or replacement

Anesthesia type	General
Airway	ETT
Lines and access	PIV, Arterial line, Central line, +/- PA catheter
Monitors	Standard ASA, arterial line BP, CVP +/- PAP, TEE, NIRS
Primary anesthetic considerations
Preoperative	-Severity of lesion (AS vs AR) -Symptoms (syncope, angina, dyspnea) -LV function and size (hypertrophy) -Coronary disease (concomitant CABG) -Pulmonary HTN -Rhythm (atrial fibrillation)
Intraoperative	-Hemodynamic goals (AS vs AR) -Full heparinization before CPB -Myocardial protection and de-airing -Conduction disturbance after valve replacement -Weaning from CPB: LV/RV function, valve seating, gradients
Postoperative	-Vasoplegia -Low cardiac output syndrome -Conduction abnormalities -Bleeding -Early vs delayed extubation
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Aortic valve repair or replacement is performed for aortic stenosis (AS), aortic regurgitation (AR), or mixed disease. It is performed with sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) involves excision of the native valve and implantation of a mechanical or bioprosthetic prosthesis.

Indications:

• Symptomatic severe AS
• Severe AR with LV dilation or dysfunction
• Endocarditis with structural destruction
• Concomitant CABG requirement
• Root/ascending aortic pathology

Unlike Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, SAVR allows:

• Complete annular debridement
• Abscess repair
• Annular enlargement
• Root replacement
• Concomitant multivessel CABG
• Durability advantage in younger patients

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is preferred in:

• Elderly patients
• High or prohibitive surgical risk
• Frailty or hostile chest

Preoperative management

Patient evaluation

System	Considerations
Neurologic	-Syncope history (critical AS) -Carotid disease (stroke risk)
Cardiovascular	-AVA, mean gradient, velocity (severity) -LVEF, LVH vs LV dilation (pressure or volume overload) -Diastolic dysfunction (preload sensitivity) -pulmonary HTN (RV risk post bypass) -CAD (concomitant CABG) -Rhythm (atrial fibrillation)
Pulmonary	-Restrictive lung physiology (HF/sternotomy) -COPD (prolonged vent weaning)
Gastrointestinal	-Dysphagia, esophageal/GI tract surgeries (TEE)
Hematologic	-Anticoagulation use, blood products available
Renal	-Baseline Cr, kidney disease (CPB AKI risk)
Endocrine	-DM
Other	-Endocarditis (longer CPB)

Echocardiography

Severe Aortic Stenosis - AVA < 1cm2, mean pressure gradient > 40mmHg, peak velocity > 4m/sSevere Aortic Regurgitation - vena contracta > 6mm, pressure half-time < 200ms, holodiastolic flow reversal in the descending aorta > 20cm/s

Conduction System Risk

AV node and bundle of His lie near membranous septum, so sutures placed in annulus can damage conduction tissue. This is higher risk with pre-existing RBBB, heavy annular calcification, and endocarditis with abscess. Permanent pacemaker rate: ~3-8%

Labs and studies

• CBC, CMP, PT/PTT
• T&C pRBC FFP
• TTE/TEE, cardiac cath, EKG, CXR

Operating room setup

• Have at least 5-8 channels for infusions
  • Epinephrine, norepinephrine, carrier, insulin (some institutions use phenylephrine in place of norepi)
  • Consider ketamine, dexmedetomidine, cefazolin
• Drugs:
  • Emergency medications (bolus):
    • epinephrine, atropine
    • Other bolus vasopressors (e.g. vasopressin, phenylephrine, norepinephrine)
    • +/- esmolol, nicardipine, and nitroprusside
  • Heparin, protamine, calcium
  • +/- Magnesium
• Perfusion technician should be available along with cell saver
• Fluid warmer
• Triple transducers primed and zeroed
• Internal defibrillator/pacer available in room
• TEE machine with appropriately sized probe

Patient preparation and premedication

• Continue beta blockers, statins, antianginals
• Hold ACE inhibitors, DOACs per protocol

Regional and neuraxial techniques

• Pre-Op: Erector Spinae Plane Block -- check departmental policy as institutions vary on candidacy for pre-op block based on vessel pathology
• Intra-op: Parasternal Intercostal Block - after sternal wound closure and prior to emergence

Intraoperative management

Monitoring and access

• Arterial line (usually before induction)
• Central access (usually double stick with single lumen and cordis)
• +/- PA catheter (especially in LV dysfunction, pulmonary HTN)
• TEE

Postoperative management

Disposition

• Cardiac ICU

Pain management

• Parasternal block
• Multimodal analgesia

Potential complications

• Complete heart block (AV node lies near membranous septum and can be damaged during annular suturing)
• Atrial fibrillation
• Vasoplegia (CPB induced inflammatory state with low SVR despite normal EF)
• Low cardiac output syndrome (can be from ischemia, LVH stiffness, afterload mismatch, prosthesis-patient mismatch)
• Bleeding/re-exploration
• Stroke (aortic manipulation, calcified debris, air embolism)
• Acute kidney injury

Mechanical valve is more durable but carries higher bleeding risk and requires lifelong anticoagulation

Procedure variants

	Mechanical	Bioprosthetic	AVR+CABG	Minimally invasive AVR
Unique considerations
Position
Surgical time
EBL
Postoperative disposition
Pain management
Potential complications