BACKGROUND Recent transcatheter aortic valve replacement studies have raised concerns about adverse cerebrovascular events. The etiopathology of the embolized material is currently unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 40 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the use of a dual filter-based embolic protection device (Montage Dual Filter System, Claret Medical, Inc). ...

A 47-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as having aortitis syndrome underwent aortic root replacement for an ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation. Because the patient has been treated with steroids for more than 20 years, a Freestyle stentless valve was used to avoid the risk of valve detachment. There were no complications observed during the postoperative course. Although lon...

Forty-nine patients have undergone combined aortic valve replacement and aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass graft surgery using a technique of distal coronary perfusion. Vein grafts are placed before replacement of the aortic valve, and continuously perfused by siting the proximal anastomoses high on the aortic root or individually perfusing the grafts before proximal anastomosis. Continuous c...

Prosthetic aortic valve and conduit dehiscence with periconduit cavity and ascending aortic aneurysm is an uncommon complication of aortic root surgery. It is usually recognizable at echocardiography due to an abnormal position of the prosthetic valve and conduit in relation to the native aortic annulus in conjunction with an abnormal echolucent periconduit space that fills with color flow. Mit...

We report our initial experience with aortic valve replacement using robotic assistance. All procedures were performed with peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass, transthoracic aortic cross-clamp, and antegrade cold crystalloid cardioplegia. One or two ports and a 5-cm intercostal incision in the right chest were used for access. All patients had aortic valve replacement performed robotically. Betw...

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disorder in older adults. Patients with severe AS are generally treated nonsurgically if asymptomatic and referred to aortic valve replacement when symptoms develop. However, patients with severe asymptomatic AS with left ventricular dysfunction may benefit from early aortic valve replacement. Although operative mortality in patients with s...

In Marfan syndrome, with dilatation of the aortic root secondary to an underlying connective tissue defect, pregnancy can cause hemodynamic stress leading to the development of an aortic aneurysm and even a fatal aortic dissection. In the presence of existing aortic root enlargement and a family history of aortic dissection, preventative elective surgery is suggested. Aortic root replacement wi...

BACKGROUND In patients after aortic valve surgery, the quality of life is hypothesized to be influenced by the type of the valve procedure. A cross-sectional study on the postoperative quality of life was carried out in patients after aortic valve-sparing surgery (with regards to the age of the patient), Ross procedure and mechanical aortic valve replacement. METHODS Quality of life was studi...

BACKGROUND We present a case of redo aortic valve replacement in a patient with thrombocytopenia. The initial operation was performed through limited access transverse sternotomy. This is the first report of this kind in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION A 62 year old Caucasian male farmer with thrombocytopenia had uneventful redo aortic valve replacement when the first xenograft failed after...

A 67-year old man with ascending aortic aneurysm was referred because of a quadricuspid aortic valve. He underwent aortic root replacement with a valve-sparing technique. Under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, replacement of the ascending aorta was successfully performed. The postoperative course was uneventful without recurrence of aortic regurgitation.