References Regarding Bicuspid Aortic Valves

[Arlyss]

There are two recent publications in the medical literature regarding the nature and treatment of bicuspid aortic valves that I have found very helpful. In Circulation a paper has been published that very comprehensively describes the nature of bicupsid aortic disease, which includes not only the valve but the aorta itself. Here is the web address for the complete paper
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/106/8/900?eaf
The second paper has just been published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery as part of the proceedings from the Aortic Surgery Symposium held in New York City in May of 2002. This paper describes 50 bicuspid aortic valve replacement patients and compares their outcomes to 50 tricuspid (normal) aortic valve replacements. For bicuspid patients, because of an enlarged aorta in 3 patients (who fortunately had surgery in time), 5 aortic dissections that were fatal, and an additional 7 sudden deaths, the recommendation is that the ascending aorta be replaced at the time of bicuspid aortic valve replacement. Doing so would save lives and avoid the need for a second surgery. Here is the address for the abstract of this paper http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/74/5/S1773
I hope this will be helpful to other bicuspid patients. We had no idea of this when my husband's bicuspid aortic valve was replaced. He was fortunate to have his aortic aneurysm discovered in time to have surgery - there were no symptoms.
Arlyss

 

[PWolff]

Wow, thanks for posting this! The article on ascending aortia aneurysm is especially useful. Chilling, but useful. As a BAV patient who is researching my first operation, stuff like this extremely helpful.

 

[Mara]

you can also find all sorts of links to journal abstracts and articles by searching in the National Institutes of Health website. I found a lot of the articles I read prior to my surgery there. Sometimes all you get is the abstract, but it will give you the journal date and volume and issue and if you are close to a medical school you can go over to their library and photo copy the whole article. Just don't let the med students know what you're doing or you'll get a lot of unrealistic advice.
-Mara

 

[Arlyss]

Regarding the Medical Literature

Regarding the Medical Literature

Hi Patrick,
I am very glad that you found these particular papers helpful. When I began my search in early 2001, information regarding bicuspid valves - we really need a new term that would indicate that this a condition involving much more than just the valve! - was scattered around in several places. The Circulation article has done a wonderful job of painting a complete picture of this condition - you will note it is from the U of Toronto and Dr. Tirone David is one of the authors. Dr. David has certainly pioneered in the area of aortic valve/aortic surgery. My husband's surgeon uses a technique that he calls a modified David technique, named after Dr. David, who first developed it.
And the paper from Milan particulary touched me - I read my husband's experience in that paper. He is like the fortunate ones that had surgey in time - there were only 3 like that in the study!
Take care. Arlyss