title: Bio-Valsalva prosthesis: 'new' conduit for 'old' patients.
abstract: A new bio-prosthetic valved conduit (Bio-Valsalva) has recently been introduced into surgical practice in order to offer a valid option for elderly patients undergoing composite aortic root replacement. The conduit is made up of a stentless porcine valve (elan valve) pre-sewn inside a triple layer Valsalva prosthesis and it is entirely preserved in a glutaraldehyde solution. In our Department, 21 patients (16 males, mean age 67.8+/-5.5 years) underwent aortic root replacement using the Bio-Valsalva prosthesis. Composite root replacement was extended to the hemiarch in three cases while a complete arch replacement was performed in two patients. Type A aortic dissection was present in two cases while a bicuspid aortic valve was detected in eight patients. In-hospital mortality was 4.7% (1 patient). Re-thoracotomy for bleeding was performed in one case. The median in-hospital stay was 12 days. The median follow-up was six months and is 100% complete. There were no re-operations or structural deterioration during this early phase of observation. The Bio-Valsalva graft, readily available in different sizes, demonstrates ease of implantability and shows good haemostatic characteristics. More patients and a longer follow-up are necessary to confirm the advantages of this graft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilato
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin-Suarez
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacchini
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D006439:Hemodynamics; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D013908:Thoracotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome