Arterial stiffness and degenerative aortic stenosis (AoS) are frequently associated leading to a combined valvular and vascular load imposed on the left ventricle (LV). Vascular load consists of a pulsatile load represented by arterial stiffness and a steady load corresponding to vascular resistance. Increased vascular load in AoS has been associated with LV dysfunction and poor prognosis in pre-intervention state, as well as after aortic valve replacement (AVR), suggesting that the evaluation of arterial load in AoS may have clinical benefits. Nevertheless, studies that investigated arterial stiffness in AoS either before or after AVR used various methods of measurement and their results are conflicting. The aim of the present review was to summarize the main pathophysiological mechanisms which may explain the complex valvulo-arterial interplay in AoS and their consequences on LV structure and function on the patients' outcome. Future larger studies are needed to clarify the complex hemodynamic modifications produced by increased vascular load in AoS and its changes after AVR. Prospective evaluation is needed to confirm the prognostic value of arterial stiffness in patients with AoS. Simple, non-invasive, reliable methods which must be validated in AoS still remain to be established before implementing arterial stiffness measurement in patients with AoS in clinical practice.

• Klíčová slova
• aortic stenosis, arterial stiffness, total left ventricle pressure load, ventriculo-arterial coupling,
• MeSH
• aortální chlopeň chirurgie   MeSH
• aortální stenóza * chirurgie   MeSH
• funkce levé komory srdeční fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• srdeční komory MeSH
• tuhost cévní stěny * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Background Many patients with severe aortic stenosis are referred late with advanced symptoms or inappropriately denied intervention. The objective was to investigate whether a structured communication to referring physicians (facilitated data relay) might improve the rate and timeliness of intervention. Methods and Results A prospective registry of consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis at 23 centers in 9 European countries with transcatheter as well as surgical aortic valve replacement being available was performed. The study included a 3-month documentation of the status quo (phase A), a 6-month intervention phase (implementing facilitated data relay), and a 3-month documentation of a legacy effect (phase-B). Two thousand one hundred seventy-one patients with severe aortic stenoses were enrolled (phase A: 759; intervention: 905; phase-B: 507). Mean age was 77.9±10.0 years, and 80% were symptomatic, including 52% with severe symptoms. During phase A, intervention was planned in 464/696 (67%), 138 (20%) were assigned to watchful waiting, 8 (1%) to balloon aortic valvuloplasty, 60 (9%) were listed as not for active treatment, and in 26 (4%), no decision was made. Three hundred sixty-three of 464 (78%) patients received the planned intervention within 3 months. Timeliness of the intervention improved as shown by the higher number of aortic valve replacements performed within 3 months (59% versus 51%, P=0.002) and a significant decrease in the time to intervention (36±38 versus 30±33 days, P=0.002). Conclusions A simple, low-cost, facilitated data relay improves timeliness of treatment for patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, resulting in a shorter time to transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This effect was mainly driven by a significant improvement in timeliness of intervention in transcatheter aortic valve replacement but not surgical aortic valve replacement. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT02241447.

• Klíčová slova
• Quality of care, aortic stenosis, facilitated data relay, surgical aortic valve replacement, transcatheter aortic valve implantation,
• MeSH
• aortální stenóza diagnostické zobrazování   ošetřování   terapie   MeSH
• balónková valvuloplastika * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• čas zasáhnout při rozvinutí nemoci * MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• chirurgická náhrada chlopně * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• echokardiografie MeSH
• klinické rozhodování MeSH
• konziliární vyšetření a konzultace * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pozorné vyčkávání * MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• role ošetřovatelky * MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• transkatetrální implantace aortální chlopně * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• určení vhodnosti pacienta MeSH
• výběr pacientů MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH