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DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1191468
Variability of aortic root geometry before and after aortic valve replacement with pericardial supraannular stentless valve prosthesis
Objectives: Recent experimental studies showed that the aortic root undergoes complex deformations during the cardiac cycle, which probably minimize aortic cusp stress and aortic valve degeneration. We want to show that aortic valve replacement (AVR) techniques can restore this normal pattern of aortic root dynamics.
Methods: We included 28 patients. One group (15 patients) received a Sorin Freedom Solo (biological aortic valve) valve. The control group, containing 13 patients was not undergoing cardiac surgery. All patients underwent ECG-gated multislice CT. Areas were measured in LVOT, aortic root (AR), sinutubular junction (STJ) and ascending aorta (AA) 10 times per cardiac cycle. Follow up was done 3–6 month after operation.
Results: Preoperative root dynamics was limited – area variability was only 10% – compared to 14% in control group. Postoperative especially those areas measured at STJ and AR gained more flexibility, while AA- and LVOT-areas showed only small differences.
Conclusions: Aortic root dynamics of AVR (Sorin Freedom Solo)-patients is as good as of the control patients. Further comparisons of different valve types might allow conclusions about the durability of biological aortic valves, depending on their ability of restoring normal aortic root dynamics.