title: Year in review: complex valve reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent years, great emphasis has been placed on reconstructive techniques for the surgical management of heart valve disease. In this review, we discuss recent data and current practice as it pertains to the subject of reconstructive valve surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  New techniques and an improved understanding of the mechanisms of aortic insufficiency have led to marked improvement in the early and late outcomes of aortic valve repair. While mitral valve repair is the established approach for the management of degenerative mitral valve disease, surgical technique continues to be refined, with valve reconstruction principles applied to increasingly challenging anatomy. Moreover, the introduction of novel biomaterials has allowed extension of the indication for valve reconstruction to circumstances of extensive tissue defect, including infective endocarditis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valve reconstruction is increasingly being recognized as an alternative to valve replacement. It alleviates the risks of prosthesis-related complications and is especially appealing in young and middle-aged adults. While early and midterm outcomes appear promising, further studies are warranted to assess the clinical benefit and long-term durability of complex valve reconstruction procedures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazine
authors.forename: Mitesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badiwala
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials