Bicuspid aortic valve repair: An ongoing struggle in material science.

Abstract

Techniques and results of aortic valve repair remain challenging. Safari et al. seek to improve aortic valve repair by either aortic patching or valve sparing root replacement. The results of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair in 142 patients were examined withor without valve sparing root replacement. Isolated BAV repair with or without valve sparing root replacement provided goodclinical outcomes with relatively low reoperation rate and durable valve function. While clinical outcome from BAV repair was generally good, the authors have stopped pericardial patch augmentation of BAV leaflets due to suboptimal durability. Thelack of a durable valve patch material and the modest durability of BAV repairin general point out that aortic valve repair remains an ongoing struggle inmaterial science.