Functional aortic annulus 3-dimensional remodelling during bicuspid aortic valve repair: complete external and internal annuloplasty

Abstract

The internal geometric ring provides full three-dimensional annular stability while minimizing the dissection of the aortic root, pulmonary artery and right ventricle and avoids reimplanting the coronaries. The external annuloplasty provides a secondary stabilization of the easily accessed fibrous portion of the annulus using the sutures for the internal annuloplasty device and minimizes the sutures above the leaflets. Together they form a complete remodelling of the ventriculo-aortic junction following its exact course. The junction together with stabilization of the subcommissural triangles defines functional aortic annulus remodelling. External annuloplasty supports the virtual basal ring.

Keywords: Annuloplasty rings and bands; Aortic annuloplasty; Aortic regurgitation; Aortic root; Aortic valve regurgitation; Aortic valve sparing; Bicuspid aortic valve.