A series of 21 patients submitted to mechanical debridement for treatment of calcified stenotic aortic valves is presented. There were 8 congenital and 13 senile valves, in 10 male and 11 female patients. Mean age 63.8 ± 9.5 (44 to 78) years. Six had also coronary bypass grafts and 1 mitral comissurotomy. Total perfusion time was 53.8 ± 21.4 min and ischemic time 33.7 ± 12.1 min. All patients had been followedup from 1 month to 2 years. In 16 a late echocardiographic evaluation was performed. There have been no early and 1 late death. Surviving patients are in functional classes I or II. Maximum instantaneous gradient dropped from 90.7 ± 23.3 mmHg to 33.0 ±7.9 mmHg (p < 0.01) and mean aortic gradient from 50.3 ± 11.0 mmHg to 19.9 ± 3.5 mmHg (p < 0.05). Septal width reduced from 2.0 ± 0.5 cm to 1.2 ± 0.1 (p < 0.01). Aortic regurgitation, by echocardiography, was considered minimum in 5, mild in 9 and moderated in 2 cases. Mechanical debridement of calcified aortic valves, congenital or senile, provides good medium-term relief for aortic stenosis. This technical alternative may be considered in older patients, small aortic roots and higher risks of anticoagulation.
Aortic stenosis; Aortic stenosis; Heart valves