Evaluate the effect of early postoperative decline in right ventricular longitudinal function on mid term prognosis after aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis.

The study was prospective observational, including all consecutive patients referred for severe aortic stenosis necessitating aortic valve replacement. Were excluded patients with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (<50%) and those with paradoxical low flow low gradient aortic stenosis. Right ventricular longitudinal function was assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and peak systolic velocity of tricuspid annulus (S). These parameters were assessed at 2 weeks and 1 year after aortic valve replacement and were considered abnormal if TAPSE<16mm ans S<11.5cm/s. The primary end point was composite of death or hospitalization for cardiac causes.

242 patients were included between 2013 January and 2017 December, with a mean age of 74±11.6 years and 60.3% of men. Longitudinal right ventricular function was decreased in 143 patients (59.1%) at 2 weeks after surgery, with an incomplete but significant recovery 1 year after aortic valve replacement. After a median follow up of 2.9±2.3 years, there wasn’t a significant association between early alteration of longitudinal right ventricular function and death or hospitalization for cardiac causes (P=0.38 by log-rank test).

Early decrease in the parameters of longitudinal right ventricular function after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis doesn’t impact the mid term outcome.