To explore the value of echocardiography in patients with aortic stenosis who underwent transapical aortic valve implantation (TAAVI).

Fifteen high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis were chosen in the present study, all of which received TAAVI in Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June 2014 to March 2015. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), effective orifice area (EOA), mean aortic pressure gradient (MPG), as well as artificial valve function of patients were measured at different time points (before operation, discharge, 1 month and 3-6 months after operation) by echocardiography. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis with SPSS software, and multiple comparisons were done using LSD student t test.

The data from preoperative echocardiography indicated severe aortic stenosis in the 15 patients, with the average level of EOA as (0.55±0.28) cm² and MPG as (58.93±14.96) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Moderate paravalvular aortic regurgitation was observed in one patients, who was then received a second implantation. There was no significant difference between LVEDD, LAD, and LVEF when the patients were at discharge, 1 month and 3-6 months after operation. The prosthetic valves were stable and conformed by echocardiography, while paravalvular leak regurgitation (1-2 mm) was observed in 7 patients. One patient died of other reasons. Compared with preoperative data, the EOA increased while MPG decreased when the patients were at discharge, 1 month and 3-6 month after operation (t=6.619, 7.357, 6.401, all P<0.001; t=9.523, 9.687, 5.932, all P<0.001).

With careful patient screening and selection, TAAVI can be an effective treatment for high-risk severe aortic stenosis patients, in which echocardiography plays an important role during the surgery and follow up.