Novel Treatment of a Degenerated Bioroot With the Use of the Sutureless Valve Technique.

We describe 3 patients with severe aortic regurgitation after aortic root replacement using the Freestyle bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). The indication in 2 patients was endocarditis. The third patient showed rupture of the right coronary cusp. To achieve fewer complications, lower operative risk, and reduce operative and cross-clamp times, implantation of a sutureless bioprosthesis in a valve-in-valve manner was performed. A Perceval bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Sallugia, Italy) was used in 2 patients, and a 3F Enable bioprosthesis (Medtronic) was used in the other patient. No perioperative complications or in-hospital deaths were observed. We conclude that sutureless aortic valve prostheses offer a safe and feasible option for management of failed homografts.

Effect of Coronary Anatomy and Hydrostatic Pressure on Intracoronary Indices of Stenosis Severity.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to analyze height differences within the coronary artery tree in patients in a supine position and to quantify the impact of hydrostatic pressure on intracoronary pressure measurements in vitro. BACKGROUND: Although pressure equalization of the pressure sensor and the systemic pressure at the catheter tip is mandatory in intracoronary pressure measurements, subsequent measurements may be influenced by hydrostatic pressure related to the coronary anatomy in the supine position. Outlining and quantifying this phenomenon is important to interpret routine and pullback pressure measurements within the coronary tree. METHODS: Coronary anatomy was analyzed in computed tomography angiographies of 70 patients to calculate height differences between the catheter tip and different coronary segments in the supine position. Using a dynamic pressure simulator, the effect of the expected hydrostatic pressure resulting from such height differences on indices stenosis severity was assessed. RESULTS: In all patients, the left anterior and right posterior descending arteries are the highest points of the coronary tree with a mean height difference of -4.9 ± 1.6 cm and -3.8 ± 1.0 cm; whereas the circumflex artery and right posterolateral branches are the lowest points, with mean height differences of 3.9 ± 0.9 cm and 2.6 ± 1.6 cm compared with the according ostium. In vitro measurements demonstrated a correlation of the absolute pressure differences with height differences (r = 0.993; p < 0.0001) and the slope was 0.77 mm Hg/cm. The Pd/Pa ratio and instantaneous wave-free ratio correlated also with the height difference (fractional flow reserve r = 0.98; p < 0.0001; instantaneous wave-free ratio r = 0.97; p < 0.0001), but both were influenced by the systemic pressure level. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrostatic pressure variations resulting from normal coronary anatomy in a supine position influence intracoronary pressure measurements and may affect their interpretation during stenosis severity assessment.

The Freedom SOLO valve: mid-term clinical results with a stentless pericardial valve for aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to evaluate the Freedom SOLO pericardial stentless valve prosthesis implanted in a subcoronary or supra-annular position, using a single running suture, over a follow up period of up to five years. The clinical data obtained after aortic valve replacement (AVR) were analyzed retrospectively for validation. METHODS: Between April 2004 and September 2009, a total of 143 patients (81 males, 62 females; mean age 71 +/- 7 years; range: 41-87 years) underwent primary AVR using the Freedom SOLO valve, implanted with a supra-annular subcoronary technique. Isolated AVR was performed on 120 patients, while 23 patients required additional surgery that included coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 5), ascending aorta replacement (n = 1), atrial fibrillation surgery (n = 9), and mitral valve repair (n = 1). Clinical investigations were performed before, during and after surgery; the follow up was 100% complete. A subgroup of patients (70%) was investigated echocardiographically during the follow up period to analyze the hemodynamic performance of the prosthesis. RESULTS: For all procedures the mean ischemia time was 66 +/- 15 min, and the mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time 88 +/- 20 min. For isolated AVR, the mean cross-clamp time was 65 +/- 14 min, and the mean CPB time 85 +/- 17 min. The predominant implanted valve size was 25 mm (42%). Operative mortality was 4.9% (7/143), with an overall mortality of 10.5% (15/143) at 4.7 years of follow up. The mean follow up was 1.8 +/- 1.4 years, and the total follow up 257 patient-years. At postoperative follow up the mean valve gradient was 10.6 mmHg, while the effective orifice area was 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm2 at one month and 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm2 at 12 months. CONCLUSION: The Freedom SOLO valve was implanted in a cohort of patients, using a simplified, supra-annular subcoronary technique, with no technical problems. Subsequently, the valve demonstrated an excellent clinical performance for up to five years. Further long-term follow up will be required to confirm the performance of the prosthesis with regards to structural and nonstructural valve stability.