by
Alex Zapolanski, M.D., Director of Cardiac Surgery at The Valley Hospital
Posted on
December 2, 2015
According to findings recently presented at a major national meeting, asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis may benefit significantly from earlier valve replacement, potentially increasing long-term results. Historically, surgeons have followed the accepted practice of “watchful waiting” for patients with severe aortic stenosis when they show no symptoms, because it was believed it would not compromise the eventual surgical outcome. However, the findings of this new study show that early surgical intervention may be beneficial to extending the life of some patients.