**Part 3**

**Aortic Root Replacement** 

84 Aortic Valve Surgery

Zilla P., Brink J., Human P & Bezuidenhout D. (2008). Prosthetic heart valves: Catering for

Zipkin I. (1970). The inorganic composition of bones and teeth. In: Biological Calcification:

Cellular and Molecular Aspects, Schraer H. pp.69-103, Appleton Century Crofts,

the few. *Biomaterials,* Vol. 29;pp.385-406.

New York.

**5** 

*Australia* 

**Valve-Sparing Aortic Root** 

**Replacement and Aortic Valve Repair** 

William Y. Shi, Michael O' Keefe and George Matalanis

*Department of Cardiac Surgery, Austin Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne,* 

The impetus behind preservation of the native aortic valve derives from the desire to avoid the inherent shortcomings of prosthetic valves. These include the requirement for long term anticoagulation in the case of mechanical valves, and tissue degeneration with the need for re-operations with bioprostheses. Aortic valve preservation in the setting of aortic root dilatation is technically challenging, however potentially rewarding if these benefits can be achieved. This enthusiasm for aortic valve preservation must of course be tempered by the potential risks of residual or recurrent significant aortic regurgitation and subsequent

Appreciation of the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the normal aortic root and how

*Reprinted from Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2004;13 Suppl 3, Matalanis G, Valve sparing aortic root repairs--an* 

The aortic valve's function is dependant upon its leaflets, the sinotubular junction (STJ), aortic sinuses and annulus, which together constitute the aortic root. Important geometric

Fig. 1. The aortic valves, leaflets and adjacent aortic root structures, which participate in

**1. Introduction** 

complex re-operations associated with repair failures.

it changes in pathological states is essential to facilitate reconstruction.

*anatomical approach. S13-18., Copyright (2004), with permission from Elsevier* 

relationships exist between several of the aortic root dimensions [1-3].

normal aortic valve function

**2. Aortic root anatomy** 
