heart surgery

First-Ever Aortic Stenosis Use Criteria Issued By ACC/AHA

In collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American Society of Echocardiography, and 7 other organizations, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association developed Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis. “This is the first AUC to address the topic of [aortic stenosis] and its treatment options, including surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR),” the authors stated.

The AUC includes 95 common sceneries encountered in daily practice with 6 potential treatment and intervention options.
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Among the recommendations:

  • SAVR and TAVR are appropriate for most patients with acrostic stenosis who are at an intermediate or high surgical risk.
  • Asymptomatic patients with abnormal stress test results could be considered for TAVR or SAVR.

“This AUC report serves as a helpful guide to physicians, patients, and policy makers regarding the rational use of treatment options available for severe AS.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Aortic Stenosis Writing Group. ACC/AATS/AHA/ASE/EACTS/HVS/SCA/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR/STS 2017 Appropriate Use Criteria for the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis [published online October 16, 2017]. J Am Coll Cardiol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.09.018.