Giant ascending aortic aneurysm formation following aortic valve replacement is rare. A 28-year-old man who underwent aortic valve replacement with a prosthetic valve for aortic regurgitation secondary to congenital bicuspid aortic valve about 10 years ago was diagnosed with a giant ascending aortic aneurysm about 16 cm in diameter in follow-up. The aneurysm was resected leaving the functional ...

OBJECTIVE Development of calcific aortic valve stenosis involves multiple signaling pathways, which may be modulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ). This study tested the hypothesis that pioglitazone (Pio), a ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, inhibits calcification of the aortic valve in hypercholesteremic mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Low density lipoprot...

The association between ascending aortic aneurysm (AA) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has been well established. Different genetic, haemodynamic and cardiovascular risk factors have been implicated in the development and progression of AA. However, to date, definite conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the exact molecular, cellular and haemodynamic mechanisms causing BAV-associated aortopathy...

INTRODUCTION The advantages of aortic valve and aortic root reconstructive surgery include the provision of natural postoperative valve hemodynamics and the avoidance of prosthetic valve-related complications. A systematic approach based on functional classification of aortic regurgitation allows standardization and reproducibility. Its potential applicability, however, is limited by the relati...

BACKGROUND Glutaraldehyde-preserved bioprosthetic heart valve substitutes have limited performance and longevity due to tissue degeneration and calcification. The Freestyle valve (Medtronic Heart Valves, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) combines zero fixation pressure and proportional, variant-amino oleic acid (AOA) as antidegeneration and antimineralization measures. The aim of this study was to compare ...

This review examines the treatment options for women with severe aortic stenosis. It is known that female sex is associated with poorer outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement. With the introduction and adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement, there are emerging data about the potential impact of female sex-specific char...

BACKGROUND Aortic valve disease is associated with eccentric or concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and changes in the LV mass. The relationship between LV mass and function and the effect of LV remodeling after aortic valve replacement (AVR), in patients with aortic valve disease needs evaluation, that is largely unknown in our population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the eff...

OBJECTIVE In cases of aortic valve replacement, the downstream flow profile and turbulence in the ascending aorta differ according to the prosthetic aortic valve implanted. The objective of this work is to study the influence of prosthetic valve type on the flow in the bypass grafts implanted to the ascending aorta in cases of concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass. M...

Operative balloon dilatation of the aortic valve was performed in seven neonates with critical stenosis of the aortic valve. The procedure was followed by the development of severe aortic regurgitation in four patients. Necropsy was performed in three and revealed partial detachment of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve. Damage to the valve leaflet caused by balloon dilatation was prob...

A 28-year-old man with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve underwent a course of antibiotic therapy, but developed severe aortic root deformity requiring aortic root replacement with a mechanical composite valve conduit. Of note, this patient had undergone a previous aortic valve operation for bicuspid valve stenosis, and indurations and fragility of the aortic root caused by the precedi...