Surgical aortic valvuloplasty using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator: an invasive hemodynamic follow-up study.

Valve repair and calcium debridement in patients with calcific aortic stenosis, using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA), results in a reduction in the aortic valve gradient while potentially avoiding long-term problems inherent to prosthetic valves. Invasive followup data in these patients has not previously been reported. Ten patients in whom CUSA debridement was performed underwent cardiac catheterization prior to and 8.0 +/- 2.5 months following the procedure. Compared to baseline, the aortic valve area significantly increased from 0.75 +/- 0.2 to 1.1 +/- 0.3 cm2 (p = 0.009) and the mean gradient was significantly reduced from 54 +/- 21 to 27 +/- 21 mmHg (p = 0.02) at followup. No significant change was noted in cardiac output, ejection fraction, left ventricular end systolic or diastolic volumes or left ventricular end diastolic pressure. However, 6 patients were found to have at least one grade worsening of aortic regurgitation. The development of increased aortic insufficiency in many patients after CUSA aortic valve debridement will likely limit this procedure's clinical utility.