aortic valve replacement
Also written as: AVR — Aortic Valve Replacement
Surgical procedure replacing a diseased aortic valve with a mechanical or biological prosthesis.
Full Definition
Aortic valve replacement involves removing a diseased or malfunctioning aortic valve and implanting a prosthetic replacement, either mechanical or bioprosthetic. The procedure is performed for severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation that cannot be adequately treated with repair techniques. Anesthetic management focuses on hemodynamic optimization, particularly managing afterload in stenotic disease and preload in regurgitant lesions. Key considerations include intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for valve assessment, air removal after valve implantation, and post-operative anticoagulation requirements that vary based on prosthesis type.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as AVR; specify prosthesis type when relevant.
In Context
- "The patient underwent successful aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve." — operative summary
- "Post-operative echocardiography confirmed excellent function of the aortic valve replacement." — discharge summary