Low flow low gradient aortic stenosis resident survival guide

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2]

Overview

When severe systolic and/or diastolic myocardial dysfunction coexist with aortic stenosis, there is a decrease in the flow through the valve leading to a prominent decrease in the transvalvular gradient, a condition referred to as low flow low gradient aortic stenosis (LF-LG AS). LF-LG AS with is defined as:

  1. An aortic valve areas < 1.0 cm2, and
  2. A mean pressure difference or gradient across the aortic valve of < 40 mm Hg

Management

Shown below is an algorithm of the management of low flow, low gradient aortic stenosis.[1]

 
 
Ultrasound evaluation of aortic stenosis
Effective orifice area (EOA)≤ 1 cm2
Pressure gradient (ΔP)<40 mmHg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low grade low flow aortic stenosis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Normal left ventricular ejection fraction
 
Left ventricular ejection fraction≤ 40-50%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
No specific recommendations:
- Surgical AVR, or
- Transcather AVR, or
- Medical treatment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dobutamine stress test
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in stroke volume by ≥ 20%
 
Increase in stroke volume by <20%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Presence of left ventricular flow reserve
 
Absence of left ventricular flow reserve
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ΔP≥40
EOA<1-1.2
 
ΔP<40
EOA≥1-1.2
 
EOA<1-1.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
True severe aortic stenosis
 
Pseudo-severe aortic stenosis
 
True severe aortic stenosis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Surgical AVR
with/without CABG
 
Medical treatment
Close follow up
 
Transcather AVR


References

  1. Pibarot P, Dumesnil JG (2012). "Low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis with normal and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction". J Am Coll Cardiol. 60 (19): 1845–53. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.06.051. PMID 23062546.