Aortic Root Remodeling for Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Dilatation of the ascending aorta has been found to be the most frequent pathogenic mechanism in aortic regurgitation. Reimplantation of the native valve within a vascular graft has been shown to normalize aortic root dimensions and restore valve function.

Remodeling of the root was originally designed by Sarsam and Yacoub, and it has been demonstrated to restore root geometry and improve aortic valve competence.Preservation of the native valve has the obvious advantage of obviating the need for anticoagulation, and there is increasing evidence that it minimizes the overall incidence of valve-related complications.

In the following video, a Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon and Director of the Aorta Center, Dr. Lars Svensson performs an aortic root remodeling with a Dacron graft and reimplantation of a bicuspid aortic valve in a patient with a left sided vena cava with a traditional incision.

Video by Lars G. Svensson, MD.