Bicuspid aortic valve (A development of insight into valvulopathies)

Aim. To study different ways of development and combinational abilities of pathological changes common for bicuspid aortic valvulopathy. Material and methods. Totally 207 patients included, who had during previous 5 years been operated for progression of inherited aortic valve defect. The age varied from 17 to 75 years (median 49,6±0,9 y.), men to women — 3:1. Comorbidities included rheumatic fever in 33 (15,9%) patients and infectious endocarditis in the past in 45 (21,7%). In 111 (53,6%) patients aortic stenosis dominated and distension of ascending aorta — in 82 (39,6%) patients.Results. For most of patients mechanical prostheses were used and only for 12 — biological; 13 patients underwent valvulopastic or no any operation. One third of patients (31,9%) required a prosthesis of ascending aorta. Combinations of additional procedures (as aortic valve plastic or prosthesis, tricuspid plastic, left atrium plastic, septal defects sewing, coronary bypass grafting) were not unusual — in 57. In-hospital mortality reached 2,9%.Conclusion. Bicuspid aortic valve is a specific kind of valvulopathy, commonly combined with aortopathy. The development of this pathology is probably inherited. Clinical picture of the defect develops during time and its exacerbation might be accelerated by rheumathic fever and infectious endocarditis. Surgical treatment is effective.