Objectives: This study attempted to determine whether early subaortic resection at lower levels of obstruction reduces the rate of recurrence of subaortic stenosis or reduces secondary damage to the aortic valve, or both.
Background: Fibromuscular subaortic stenosis is a progressive condition, and at present it is unclear whether early operation reduces the recurrence rate along with decreasing the incidence of aortic insufficiency.
Methods: Thirty-seven patients with fibromuscular subaortic stenosis and no other significant cardiac abnormality who underwent open subaortic resection were evaluated. The preoperative, early and late postoperative catheterization or echocardiographic findings as well as the operative reports were reviewed. The median age at operation was 6.4 years (range 1.1 to 17.3). The entire group has been followed up postoperatively for a median of 5.2 years (range 1.1 to 11). Mean systolic gradients across the left ventricular outflow tract were used for the purpose of this study.
Results: There was a significant correlation between the preoperative mean systolic gradient and the incidence of preoperative aortic regurgitation and late postoperative aortic valve thickening as well as the incidence and degree of late postoperative aortic regurgitation. Late postoperative gradient and degree of aortic regurgitation correlated significantly with the follow-up interval. Aortic regurgitation was progressive in some patients despite subaortic resection. A preoperative mean gradient > 30 mm Hg provided a reasonable cutoff for the likelihood postoperatively of needing a reoperation, having a postoperative shelf, a thickened aortic valve, moderate aortic regurgitation or a gradient of > 10 mm Hg.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that although early subaortic resection may not reduce the rate of recurrence of fixed subaortic stenosis, it is likely to reduce acquired damage to the aortic valve.