• Jeremy J Pereira, Michael S Lauer, Mohammad Bashir, Imran Afridi, Eugene H Blackstone, William J Stewart, Patrick M McCarthy, James D Thomas, and Craig R Asher.
• Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
• J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2002 Apr 17;39(8):1356-63.

ObjectiveWe sought to assess whether aortic valve replacement (AVR) among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and a low transvalvular gradient (TVG) is associated with improved survival.BackgroundThe optimal management of patients with severe AS with severe LV dysfunction and a low TVG remains controversial.MethodsBetween 1990 and 1998, we evaluated 68 patients who underwent AVR at our institution (AVR group) and 89 patients who did not undergo AVR (control group), with an aortic valve area < or = 0.75 cm(2), LV ejection fraction < or = 35% and mean gradient < or = 30 mm Hg. Using propensity analysis, survival was compared between a cohort of 39 patients in the AVR group and 56 patients in the control group.ResultsDespite well-matched baseline characteristics among propensity-matched patients, the one- and four-year survival rates were markedly improved in patients in the AVR group (82% and 78%), as compared with patients in the control group (41% and 15%; p < 0.0001). By multivariable analysis, the main predictor of improved survival was AVR (adjusted risk ratio 0.19, 95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.39; p < 0.0001). The only other predictors of mortality were age and the serum creatinine level.ConclusionsAmong select patients with severe AS, severe LV dysfunction and a low TVG, AVR was associated with significantly improved survival.

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