Quality of life after aortic valve repair is similar to Ross patients and superior to mechanical valve replacement: a cross-sectional study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12872-016-0236-0
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02T01:24:18Z
• Authors: Pavel Zacek; T. Holubec; M. Vobornik; J. Dominik; J. Takkenberg; J. Harrer; J. Vojacek
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Time Factors; Aortic Valve Insufficiency; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Age Factors; Anticoagulants; Middle Aged; Plastic Surgery Procedures; 3. Good health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Treatment Outcome; Aortic Valve; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Quality of Life; Female; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine; EMC COEUR-09; Research Article

In patients after aortic valve surgery, the quality of life is hypothesized to be influenced by the type of the valve procedure. A cross-sectional study on the postoperative quality of life was carried out in patients after aortic valve-sparing surgery (with regards to the age of the patient), Ross procedure and mechanical aortic valve replacement.Quality of life was studied in 139 patients after aortic valve surgery divided into four study groups (Y - aortic valve-sparing procedure at the age below 50 years, mean age 36.2 years; O - aortic valve-sparing procedure at the age 50 years and over, mean age 59.2 years; R - Ross procedure, mean age 37.8 years and M - mechanical aortic valve replacement at the age below 50 years, mean age 39.2 years). SF-36 Short Form and valve-specific questionnaires were mailed to the patients after 6 months or later following surgery (median 26.9 months).In SF-36, the younger aortic valve repair patients and the Ross patients scored significantly better in 4 of 4 physical subscales and in 2 of 4 mental subscales than the older aortic valve repair and mechanical valve replacement patients. In the valve-specific questionnaire; however, all 3 groups free of anticoagulation (Y, O, and R) displayed greater freedom from negative valve-related concerns.Postoperative quality of life is influenced by the type of aortic valve procedure and is negatively linked with mechanical prosthesis implantation and long-term anticoagulation. Aortic valve-sparing strategy should be considered in cases with suitable valve morphology due to favorable clinical results and beneficial impact on the long-term quality of life.