BACKGROUND In a patient underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) due to bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) insufficiency without marked dilation of ascending aorta, the development of delayed-typed aneurysmal complication of ascending aorta has been often reported because the dilated aorta tends to grow insidiously with age. CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old man who underwent AVR with mechanical valve due ...

Based on the natural mathematical relationships between the components of the human tri-leaflet aortic valve, new calibrated cusp sizers were developed in order to facilitate aortic valve assessment in the operating room and enhance the chance for a perfect restoration of aortic valve competence. These sizers were used clinically to guide the implementation of established aortic valve repair te...

Achievement of optimal valve geometry in valve-sparing aortic root repairs is a prerequisite for favorable valve function and, therefore, the simplification of these procedures is of utmost importance. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of the new vascular graft for aortic valve reimplantation technique and evaluate the early and intermediate functional results. Five patients...

Blunt trauma to chest cause injury to various cardiac structures. Isolated rupture of aortic valve without aortic dissection is rare complication of blunt chest trauma and can be caused by a tear or avulsion of the valve. We report a case of a 35-year-old male who presented with severe aortic insufficiency due to rupture of a non-infected congenital bicuspid aortic valve following non-penetrati...

Coronary arterial obstruction associated with congenital aortic valve disease is rare in childhood. We studied two children with aortic valve disease and symptoms of coronary insufficiency. Cineangiography revealed localized obstruction of the proximal left coronary artery. In one patient, a membrane-like structure partially covered the left sinus of Valsalva, almost isolating the ostium of the...

OBJECTIVE To describe the experience with the technique of posterior leaflet extension in children suffering of rheumatic mitral regurgitation. METHODS Between April 2002, and October 2007, 30 children, mean age 11.3 years, underwent correction of mitral insufficiency with the technique of posterior leaflet extension with a pericardial patch. Eight also received a Carpentier ring. Six childre...

Forteza et al from the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre described in this issue of the Revista Española de Cardiología their initial experience with aortic valve sparing operations for aortic root aneurysm in 18 patients with Marfan syndrome. The authors indicated that they have done 40 such operations for aortic root aneurysm. The early results reported are excellent and I commend them for...