title: Aortic leaflet replacement with the new 3F stentless aortic bioprosthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical trials with the new 3F stentless aortic bioprosthesis began October 2001, and as one of the first centers to implant this prosthesis in humans, we would like to present our experiences with this new device.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 3F aortic bioprosthesis is a stentless biological heart valve fabricated from three equal leaflets of equine pericardium, assembled in a tubular shape, and implanted in the native aortic root to replace the patient's diseased aortic leaflets. Between January 2002 and August 2002, 24 3F aortic bioprostheses were implanted at our institution. Effective orifice area, mean gradients, and ejection fraction were evaluated by echocardiography at discharge and at 12-month follow-ups after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12-month follow-ups, the 3F bioprosthesis showed a good hemodynamic performance with a significant drop of mean gradients to 10.3 mm Hg, a mean effective orifice area of 1.7 cm2, and a mean ejection fraction of 61.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical performance of the new 3F aortic bioprosthesis is comparable with regular stentless aortic valves. However its unique design facilitates implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. mirkodoss@aol.com
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miskovic
authors.forename: Triantafyllia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wimmer-Greinecker
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome