title: Successful dilatation of the small aortic root for implantation of a larger valve prosthesis.
abstract: Optimal hemodynamic performance is of paramount importance when implanting a prosthesis in a patient with a small aortic annulus. In order to avoid prosthesis size/patient body surface area mismatch, current techniques advocate aortic annulus patch enlargement or the use of a supra-annular prosthesis to ensure the implantation of an appropriately sized aortic valve. We present the first description of mechanical dilatation of a small aortic annulus as a simple alternative method.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiac Surgery, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sievers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design