Iqbal Ratnani, M.D.
Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
It was recently reported in a survey of European centers that 31.8% of patients with severe, isolated, symptomatic aortic stenosis were not offered surgical therapy due to risk level, comorbidities, or patient refusal.5 A large academic medical center in the United States reported a review of echocardiographic results from their institution that showed only 453 out of 740 patients (61%) with severe aortic stenosis — defined as aortic valve area (AVA) of 0.8 cm2 or less — received surgery.6 In the United States, it is estimated that about 749,000 patients have aortic stenosis and, of these, 125,000 have severe stenosis. This can be compared to the estimated number of AVR operations done in the United States annually of 70,000. It is clear that there is a substantial population with severe, life-threatening aortic stenosis that is underserved. This has led to the search for less morbid treatment options for aortic stenosis.
" /> It was recently reported in a survey of European centers that 31.8% of patients with severe, isolated, symptomatic aortic stenosis were not offered surgical therapy due to risk level, comorbidities, or patient refusal.5 A large academic medical center in the United States reported a review of echocardiographic results from their institution that showed only 453 out of 740 patients (61%) with severe aortic stenosis — defined as aortic valve area (AVA) of 0.8 cm2 or less — received surgery.6 In the United States, it is estimated that about 749,000 patients have aortic stenosis and, of these, 125,000 have severe stenosis. This can be compared to the estimated number of AVR operations done in the United States annually of 70,000. It is clear that there is a substantial population with severe, life-threatening aortic stenosis that is underserved. This has led to the search for less morbid treatment options for aortic stenosis.">IN THIS ISSUE
Recent Clinical Trials Shed New Light on the Cardiovascular Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment
Coenzyme Q10
Red Yeast Rice for Hypercholesterolemia
Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation for Cardiovascular Health
Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements: Helpful, Harmful, or Neutral for Cardiovascular Risk?
Cardiovascular Risk of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Advanced Cardiac Imaging for Complex Adult Congenital Heart Diseases
A Rare Case of Pancreatitis-Induced Thrombosis of the Aorta and Superior Mesenteric Artery
Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery from the Left Main Coronary Artery in the Setting of Critical Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis
Simultaneous Transfemoral Mitral and Tricuspid Valve in Ring Implantation: First Case Report with Edwards Sapien 3 Valve
Uneventful Follow-Up 2 Years after Endovascular Treatment of a High Flow Iatrogenic Aortocaval Fistula Causing Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Heart Failure
Snoopy’s Heart: A Case of Complete Congenital Absence of the Pericardium
The Kidney in Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease
Letter to the Editor in Response to “Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Diabetes Mellitus”
Vol 15, Issue 3 (2019)
Iqbal Ratnani, M.D.
Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas