title: Echocardiographic characteristics of the cryopreserved allograft aortic valve replacement assessed by intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: Improvements in cryopreservation techniques have made possible excellent long-term results using aortic valve allografts. Few studies, however, have examined the echocardiographic characteristics of allograft aortic valves and postoperative valve function. Aortic allograft function was evaluated in 16 patients by intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography, postoperative catheterization, and angiography. The mean(s.d.) coaptation zone length of the allograft leaflet was significantly greater (7.3(1.4) mm) than that of the normal aortic valve (3.2(0.8) mm) (P < 0.01). No regurgitation was noted in any patients with coaptation zone length of 7-11 mm (P < 0.01). The increment of the leaflet coaptation zone length did not produce a significant pressure gradient during exercise and appeared to be one of the important mechanisms for the prevention of postoperative aortic regurgitation, because commissural orientations may be distorted in the new aortic position. This finding is consistent with the report that allografts with the largest diameter implantable in the recipient annulus should be selected for use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery III, Nara Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niwaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous