ABSTRACT
An increasing body of research indicates that annular stability plays a key role for a successful aortic valve repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare a novel open aortic annuloplasty ring (the A-ring) with the Dacron ring. Both rings were compared with native aortic roots in vitro. Eighteen aortic roots were included in the study and randomized into three groups: the native, Dacron, and A-ring group. The roots were evaluated in an in vitro physiologic pulsatile model simulating the left side of the heart. Aortic annulus diameters were significantly reduced both in the Dacron ring group (p = 0.003) and the A-ring group (p = 0.020) when compared with the native group. Both the Dacron ring and A-ring effectively downsized the aortic annulus diameter. The A-ring also displayed an ability to maintain aortic root distensibility during the cardiac cycle equally to the Dacron ring.