Abstract 13341: Systolic Time Intervals and Alternative Echocardiographic Parameters to Evaluate Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Function

Background: Bioprosthesis (BP) used for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in aortic valve disease are subject to structural valve deterioration (SVD) after 20 years or less which leads to reintervention. The diagnostic of SVD can be challenging in the presence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) which occurs when the effective orifice area (EOA) of the BP is too small for the metabolic needs of a patient. Both SVD and PPM are mainly diagnosed with echocardiography and are characterized by high transprosthetic mean and peak pressure gradients (MG and PG) and maximal velocity (Vmax) as well as reduced EOA. Easily accessible parameters are needed to distinguish SVD from PPM. Acceleration time (AT), ejection time (ET) and AT/ET have been proposed as accurate to identify SVD in presence of PPM. However, these parameters need to be validated. Objectives: The main goal of the present study is to determine the accuracy of AT and AT/ET and to validate new echocardiographic parameters that can distinguish SVD from PPM. New parameters proposed for this study are MG/EOA and PG over mean flow rate (PG/MFR). Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed echocardiographic data of 653 patients who underwent AVR. PPM was defined as a projected EOA to body surface area inferior to 0.85 cm 2 /m 2 . SVD was defined using a multiparametric integrative approach including morphological (fibrocalcific remodeling, thickening and stiffening of valve leaflets) criteria and hemodynamic changes according to American Society of Echocardiography/European Association for Cardiovascular Imaging recommendations. Results: EOA was lower and MG higher for patients with SVD compared to those with pure PPM. PG/Q and MG/EOA were significantly higher in patients with SVD compared to patients presenting pure PPM (PG/MFR: 0.22 mm Hg/ml/s ± 0.01 vs 0.15 mm Hg/ml/s ± 0.01; MG/EOA: 31 mm Hg/cm 2 ±2 vs 16 mm Hg/cm 2 ±2, p Conclusion: AT and AT/ET are not accurate parameters to identify SVD in presence of PPM. MG/EOA and PG/MFR represent interesting alternatives to conventional parameters.