title: When a Mechanical Valve Goes Freestyle: A Patient Tailored Valve-In-Valve Implantation.
abstract: In case of a redo operation after a full root replacement there are two possible options: replacing the entire root or performing a more conservative valve-in-valve implantation. Regarding the relatively high morbidity and mortality of a redo root replacement, the valve-in-valve implantation is the preferred choice if technically feasible. We present the case of a valve-in-valve implantation with a St. Jude mechanical valve in a Medtronic bioprosthesis in a 57-year old man. Follow-up echocardiography after 1 month showed a mean gradient of 17 mmHg and no paravalvular leakage. The combination of a St. Jude bileaflet mechanical valve implanted in a Freestyle root prosthesis has not been described. This case shows that patient tailored treatment with a St. Jude bileaflet mechanical valve in a Freestyle aortic root valve can be safely performed and might be the preferred choice for younger patients, if technically feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, AZ Maria Middelares, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cathenis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamerlijnck
mesh_terms: D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation