title: Valvulotomy of calcified aortic valves using the neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser.
abstract: The neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG, wavelength; 1064 nm) laser knife was used for valvulotomy of severely calcified aortic valves in 12 patients. The fibrous layer enveloping the calcium deposits was peeled off the valvular annulus and the native valvular leaflet. The underlying calcium deposits were then resected. The average aortic cross-clamp time was 69 +/- 21 minutes. The cardiopulmonary bypass time averaged 118 +/- 32 minutes. All of the patients were discharged from the hospital without complications. Laser valvulotomy can be used to resect severely calcified aortic valves without mechanical crushing, reducing the risk of embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ooshima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hibi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome