title: Types of reconstructive surgery of the aortic valve.
abstract: The aortic valve is part of the aortic root which is wedged between the heart and the ascending aorta, maintaining a directional flow throughout life-span. Beside different types of aortic valve replacements, reconstructive techniques are increasingly performed to restore normal aortic valve function. To apply these operations, understanding of normal and pathological valve anatomy and physiology is of basic importance. In addition, a widely accepted uniform aortic valve and root terminology is desirable for a proper scientific communication. Reconstructive techniques themselves can be divided into isolated reconstruction of aortic valve/root structures and the isolated replacement of one or more structures. Examples for the former ones are commissurotomy, cusps plication, decalcification or extension as well as plications of other aortic root structures (i.e. the intercusp triangles or the basal annulus). Examples for the latter ones are the remodeling and reimplantation techniques and their modifications. Replacement of the ascending aorta at the sinotubular level for the adjustment of the commissures to restore aortic root geometry also belongs to this group of techniques for aortic valve reconstruction. In this review article a systematic description of the current reconstructive techniques to restore adequate aortic valve function as well as clinical data are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misfeld
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bechtel
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sievers
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*