Therapeutic approach to patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing orthopedic traumatological surgery

Abstract

To the Editor, The perioperative risk associated with aortic stenosis during noncardiac surgery (NCS) depends on the presence of symptoms, the severity of aortic stenosis, concomitant cardiovascular diseases, and the risk associated with noncardiac comorbidity. Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is a major risk factor for postoperative heart failure and a predictor of 30-day and long-term mortality after noncardiac surgery; therefore, an appropriate perioperative strategy is essential in patients undergoing intermediate- or high-risk noncardiac surgery.1,2 Hip and vertebral fractures, which are highly prevalent in the elderly population, are usually due to accidental falls and considered intermediate-risk interventions.3 Nonetheless, these patients are characterized by their advanced age and the presence of concomitant diseases, which increases their surgical risk. In this context, the management of aortic stenosis is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing intermediate or high-risk noncardiac surgery.4,5 The perioperative management of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis requiring uncertain trauma surgery is challenging. We present a series of 4 consecutive patients with a past medical history of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis with a trauma emergency, 3 of them due to hip fracture and 1 due to vertebral fracture, all after accidental falls, in whom perioperative management of aortic stenosis...