AHA/ACC Updates Guidelines for Valvular Heart Disease Management

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have issued the guidelines for the sufferers with valvular heart disease management, in accordance to a report released online March 15 in Circulation.

Rick A. Nishimura, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and co-workers analyzed current evidence and updated suggestions for the diagnosis and management of adult sufferers with valvular heart disease management.

The researchers presented modified suggestions for open heart surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). In accordance with the 2014 suggestions, the guidelines recommend that a multidisciplinary group of health care experts should collaborate to give optimal care for patients in whom TAVR or high-risk surgical AVR is being considered; surgical AVR is suggested for individuals with advanced aortic stenosis who have low or intermediate surgical threat for either symptoms or indications of future issues. TAVR is a reasonable alternative to surgical replacement for sufferers with advanced aortic stenosis who have symptoms and are at intermediate or high surgical risk. A shared decision-making approach should be utilized when considering replacement of a faulty valve. The guideline also modified suggestions regarding which patients with threat of infective endocarditis should get antibiotics before few dental procedures.

“Guidelines are proposed to define practices meeting the requirements of patients in most, but not all, circumstances and shouldn’t replace clinical judgment,” the authors write.

Various authors revealed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.