Aortic root enlargement and replacement of the ascending aorta in type 0 aortic valve stenosis

Perfusion. 2024 Feb 7:2676591241233143. doi: 10.1177/02676591241233143. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Introduction: This case report aims to describe an aortic root enlargement in combination with the replacement of the ascending aorta in a patient presenting with severe aortic valve stenosis.

Case report: A 68-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis due to a type 0 bicuspid aortic valve and an aortic aneurysm underwent surgery for treatment. The annulus was preoperatively measured with 19 mm. Enlargement was performed by using a tissue patch to create a neo-noncoronary sinus and enlarge the root.

Discussion: Patients with a small aortic root face an increased risk of patient prosthesis mismatch. Enlarging the aortic root can mitigate this, but it extends cross-clamp and overall operative times. This case shows the need for carefully planned surgical interventions to optimize outcomes in complex anatomies.

Conclusions: Each step of the performed surgery is well-established, however the combination and the creation of a neo-noncoronary sinus is not described so far.

Keywords: aortic aneurysm; aortic root enlargement; aortic valve replacement; bicuspid aortic valve; replacement of the ascending aorta.