title: "Ring pledget": a new concept for secure apex closure during transapical aortic valve implantation.
abstract: Transapical aortic valve implantation requires puncture of the left ventricle apex and insertion of a 32-French delivery sheath. A critical step in the procedure consists of secure closure of the ventricular apex. We describe 2 cases of apical rupture of 42 transapical aortic valve implantations. Furthermore, we describe the use of a newly designed single circular Teflon pledget that can help to avoid this complication. This pledget provides a more secure and uniform shrinkage of the entire apex to close the defect left by the delivery sheath.
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Parla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astarci
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glineur
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kefer
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Renkin
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vanoverschelde
authors.forename: Gebrine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: El Khoury