title: Simple mechanical aortic valve closure in ventricular assist device recipients.
abstract: Patients with mechanical aortic valves that develop refractory heart failure may require left ventricular assist devices. These patients have an increased risk of postoperative thromboembolic events due to intermittent valve opening. Previously described techniques to address this problem can result in a significantly increased ischemic time. We describe a simple but novel technique to close the mechanical aortic prosthesis in an expeditious manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tasset
authors.forename: Minoo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kavarana
authors.forename: Laman A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D052096:Warm Ischemia