title: Aortic valve-sparing operations: state of the art.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aortic valve-sparing (AVS) operations include an armamentarium of procedures, which preserve the aortic cusps in aortic root dilation with aortic insufficiency. The purpose of this review article is to specifically outline the surgical indications, to describe the various techniques, and to present results from the most current series in AVS operations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the worldwide literature, there is promising data on AVS operations. Patients undergoing AVS operations not only have better long-term survival but also appear to have a reduced risk of aortic insufficiency and thromboembolic complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AVS operations are an excellent option for patients with an aortic root aneurysm and normal/minimally diseased aortic cusps.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schmitto
authors.forename: Suyog A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mokashi
authors.forename: Frederick Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans