Aortic stenosis and non-cardiac surgery

Advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques associated with closer perioperative monitoring appear to allow non-cardiac elective surgical procedures possible with acceptable risk in patients with severe aortic stenosis. A correct diagnosis of the severity of aortic stenosis is mandatory in preoperative evaluation of these patients. Recent published data suggest that at least for “asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis” patients with preserved LV systolic function and no other significant valvular pathology, a reappraisal of the grading of the severity of AS in general and reassessment of perioperative risk during elective non-cardiac surgery is needed.