[Effect of aortic valve replacent for aortic stenosis on cervical arterial blood flow].

Aortic stenosis is known to modify initial upstroke time (IUT) of velocity in peripheral arteries and carotid velocities. The authors conducted a prospective study in 30 patients scheduled for aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. The goal was to establish postoperative correction of carotid flow disorders. In the preoperative period, a positive correlation (p < 0.01) was observed between IUT and mean pressure gradient, and a negative correlation (p < 0.02) between IUT and aortic valve area. Post-operatively, the authors observed a large decrease (p < 0.0001) of IUT, and higher (p < 0.05) systolic peaks of velocity (PSV) in all studied arteries. In this article, the authors confirmed the few previous studies which described preoperative velocity modifications in aortic stenosis population, but they also described for the first time their postoperative correction. Therefore, identifying these patterns of peripheral circulatory alterations is important and underestimation of carotid stenosis, currently estimated preoperatively, must be avoided.