BACKGROUND Because of risk of outlet strut fracture, prophylactic replacement should be considered for Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (BScc) valve recipients. We assessed the effects of epidemiological and decision-analytic guidelines on actual BScc valve replacement. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a retrospective cohort study including all 2263 Dutch BScc patients with a mean follow-up of 11...

In this investigation, scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure on the surfaces of animal heart valve cusps/leaflets. The results showed that though these surfaces appear smooth to the naked eye, they are actually comprised of a double hierarchical structure consisting of a cobblestone-like microstructure and nano-cilia along with mastoids with a directional arra...

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of the root reconstruction with the aortic valve-sparing operation versus composite graft-valve replacement. METHODS From January 2002 to October 2013, 324 patients underwent aortic root reconstruction. They were 263 composite graft-valve replacement and 61 aortic valve-sparing operation (43 reimplantation and 18 remodeling). Twenty-six percent of the patients...

Mitral valve and aortic valve regurgitation associated with enlarged left ventricle remains difficult to manage and the long-term results following surgical treatment is uncertain. Between April 1988 and September 2000, 82 patients with aortic and mitral regurgitation associated with enlarged left ventricle underwent valve replacement at Anzhen Hospital. The valve disease was rheumatic in origi...

We report a rare case of surgical treatment for double-valve destruction after balloon aortic valvuloplasty in a 90-year old female with severe aortic calcification. The patient underwent aortic balloon valvuloplasty for symptomatic aortic stenosis, resulting in severe aortic regurgitation because of injury to the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve and severe mitral regurgitation because o...

BACKGROUND Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease even after mitral valve surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze surgical results of TR after previous successful mitral valve surgery. METHODS From September 1996 to September 2008, 45 patients with TR after previous mitral valve replacement underwent second operation for TR. In tho...