Triple valve repair for young rheumatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Facing young foreign polyvalvular rheumatic patients, for which long-term anticoagulation is not available, we have chosen to attempt triple valve repair procedures in order to avoid prosthetic implantation in this particular population suffering from triple valve disease. METHODS: Twenty-one young rheumatic patients (mean age:11+/-4 years) underwent triple valve repair procedures including cusp extension on the aortic valve aortic between September, 1992 and December, 2000. Valvular pathology characteristics according to Carpentier's classification included mitral insufficiency type III post+II ant (n=10), type III post (n=4), type II ant (n=2), mitral stenosis (n=5), type III aortic insufficiency (n=21), type I (n=13) and type III (n=8) tricuspid insufficiency. RESULTS: Firstly, the mitral valve disease were corrected using Carpentier's techniques of repair: prosthetic ring annuloplasty (n=16), commissurotomy (n=12), chord transposition (n=11) or shortening (n=4), papillary muscle sliding plasty (n=4) and pericardial patch leaflet enlargement (n=6). Secondly, aortic lesions were corrected using glutaraldehyde stabilized autologous pericardium triple cusps extension technique (n=21). Lastly, tricuspid repairs were always performed on beating hearts using commissurotomy (n=8), prosthetic ring (n=12) or other techniques (n=9) of annuloplasty. The operative mortality was 4.7% (one patient died). Echocardiograms before discharge showed grade I mitral insufficiency in seven patients and grade I aortic insufficiency in five patients. There was no late death during a mean follow-up of 51+/-31 months. Two patients underwent valvular redo surgery because of aortic and mitral plasty deterioration due to rheumatic disease progress. After 5 years, 90% of the patients were free from redo valvular surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In rheumatic patients, autologous pericardial patch extension of the aortic valve permitted widespread use of reconstructive surgery even in patients suffering from triple valve disease. Triple valve repair, in this particular challenging setting of patients, has provided satisfactory initial and mid-term results and could be considered as an interesting palliative surgical approach.     

Valve extension with glutaraldehyde-preserved autologous pericardium. Results in mitral valve repair

Preliminary experimental studies in our laboratory have shown that autologous pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde prevents late deterioration and calcification of the tissue. For this reason, glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium has been used in a series of 64 patients who underwent operations for leaflet extension of the mitral valve between 1980 and 1989. Ages ranged from 2.5 to 60 years (mean 19 +/- 15). The causes of mitral valve insufficiency were rheumatic fever (69%), bacterial endocarditis (17%), congenital (8%), endomyocardial fibrosis (4.5%), and trauma (1.5%). The autologous tissue was fixed in a 0.62% glutaraldehyde solution for 15 minutes and rinsed in saline for an additional 15 minutes. Patching techniques varied depending on the site and the extent of the lesion. Associated mitral valve repair techniques (Carpentier's techniques) were mandatory in all patients. The period of follow-up extended from 6 months to 9 years (mean 3.1 +/- 2.5 years). There were no operative deaths in this series, and there was one late death (2%). In the six patients (12%) who underwent reoperation, there has been no case of calcification of the pericardial patch. Postoperative mitral valve function was assessed by bidimensional color Doppler echocardiographic techniques. Mitral valve insufficiency was trivial or absent in 80% of the patients. This experience permits us to conclude that leaflet extension is a simple and safe technique in valve reconstruction, allowing repair of mitral valves that otherwise would need to be replaced. It permits use of an adult-size prosthetic ring in children. Glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is the material of choice for this type of repair.     

Midterm results of aortic valve repair with the pericardial cusp extension technique in rheumatic valve disease

BACKGROUND: The encouraging results of valve repair in the atrioventricular valves have influenced a decision about aortic valve (AV) reconstruction. We report our experience with pericardial cusp extension to repair rheumatic AV disease. METHODS: From 1993 to 1998, 46 patients (25 women, 21 men) with a mean age of 31.5 +/- 12.2 years (range, 15 to 58 years) underwent AV repair. Twenty-two (47.8%) patients had moderate and 24 (52.2%) had severe aortic insufficiency (AI). Severe cusp retraction was repaired with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium. Twenty-one patients had more than one maneuver (mean, 1.8) to attain competence besides augmentation, which consisted of the release of stenotic commissures (in 11 cases), thinning of the AV cusps (in 10 cases), and resuspension of the cusps (in 17 cases). Simultaneous mitral valve repair was performed on 17 patients. Eight patients received triple valve reconstruction. RESULTS: There was no early mortality. Thirty patients no longer had AI with any significant transvalvular gradients. Five patients were followed with mild residual AI, and 2 patients with moderate AI not requiring reoperation. Nine patients developing severe AI required AV replacement with a reoperation rate 19.6% (4.26%/patient-year). The mean interval between repair and reoperation was 28.2 +/- 18.3 months (range, 3 to 58 months). The mean observation time was 4.6 +/- 3 years (211.6 patient-years). Late mortality rate was 2.2% with 1 patient. The significant negative predictors of aortic reoperation determined by univariate analysis were preoperative New York Heart Association class (p = 0.002) and postoperative severe AI (p < 0.001). Cox hazard studies identified that all risk factors were insignificant for aortic reoperation. The actuarial rate of freedom from aortic reoperation was 76.1% +/- 7% at 7.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although AV repair by extension with pericardium is worth considering with an acceptable solution to achieve a good geometry from unequal cusps, especially in young rheumatic patients for preservation of the native AV, the patients should be followed periodically for reoperation risk.     

Long-term results of conservative repair of rheumatic aortic valve insufficiency

From July 1974 to January 1986, 50 patients underwent conservative repair for rheumatic aortic valvular disease at our institution. Eleven were male and 39 female, with an average age of 39.5 years (range 17-57). The aortic lesion was associated in all cases with a predominant mitral lesion. Twenty-five also had tricuspid disease which was surgically treated in 17. Twenty-six had aortic regurgitation and 24, a mixed lesion. The surgical techniques used were: (1) commissurotomy, (2) annuloplasty, (3) cusp free edge unfolding and (4) supra-aortic crest enhancement. Two patients had one cusp extended with pericardium. There were 3 hospital deaths (6%). Six patients were lost to follow-up at different periods. Maximum follow-up was 12.58 years with a mean of 7.78 years per patient. Twelve required reoperation with 3 deaths. Three reoperations were due to failure of the mitral bioprosthesis without reoperation on the aortic valve. Of the remaining 9 patients who had aortic and mitral dysfunction, 4 had severe aortic insufficiency. The actuarial freedom from reoperation at 13 years was 75% and the overall actuarial survival was 86%. It is concluded that these surgical techniques can be applied successfully in moderate rheumatic aortic valve disease accompanying a predominant mitral lesion. This is particularly relevant when a mitral reconstruction has been performed.     

Aortic valve repair using bovine pericardium for cusp extension

Aortic valve repair with the use of individually tailored bovine pericardial extensions to the native cusps was performed in 20 patients (mean age 22 years) with severe rheumatic aortic valve incompetence. After aortic valve repair, the diastolic pressures increased significantly from a mean (+/- standard deviation) of 49 +/- 14 to 73 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), and cardiac catheterization showed a marked reduction or total correction of the angiographic degree of aortic regurgitation. All the patients were free of symptoms over a mean follow-up period of 7.5 months (1 to 23 months); the first 11 patients have had a mean follow-up period of 12 months. Attention is called to this short period of follow-up. Aortic valve repair with the use of bovine pericardium for cusp extension may prove to be an effective method of treatment for rheumatic aortic valve incompetence.     

Mitral valve repair in children with rheumatic heart disease

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term results of mitral valve repair in children with chronic rheumatic heart disease. METHODS: From January 1988 through December 2003, 278 children (153 male children) underwent mitral valve repair. Mean age was 11.7 +/- 2.9 years (range, 2-15 years). One hundred seventy-three children (62%) were in the New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Congestive heart failure was present in 24 (8.6%). Reparative procedures included posterior collar annuloplasty (n = 242), commissurotomy (n = 187), cusp-level chordal shortening (n = 94), cusp thinning (n = 71), cleft suture (n = 65), and cusp excision or plication (n = 10). Associated procedures included atrial septal defect closure (n = 22), aortic valve repair/replacement (n = 13), and tricuspid valve repair (n = 3). RESULTS: Early mortality was 2.2% (6 patients). Preoperative left ventricular dysfunction was associated with greater mortality. Median follow-up was 56.5 months (mean, 58.9. +/- 32.3 months; range, 5 to 180 months). One hundred seventy-seven survivors (65%) had no or trivial mitral regurgitation. Sixteen patients (6%) required reoperation for valve dysfunction. There were 7 late deaths (2.6%). Actuarial, reoperation-free, and event-free survivals at a median follow-up of 56.5 months were 95.2% +/- 1.5%, 91.6% +/- 2.2%, and 55.9% +/- 3.5%, respectively; at 15 years, they were 95.2% +/- 1.5%, 85.9% +/- 5.9%, and 46.7% +/- 4.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repair in children with chronic rheumatic heart disease is feasible and provides acceptable long-term results.     

Anterior mitral leaflet augmentation with autologous pericardium

The results of mitral repair for rheumatic valve insufficiency are still suboptimal. Anterior leaflet augmentation with autologous pericardium is a useful adjunct to compensate leaflet and chordae retraction. The technique and its indication are described in this article.     

Indications and limitations of aortic valve reconstruction

To elucidate the value of conservative operation for aortic regurgitation, all consecutive patients operated on between July 1988 and July 1990 were reviewed. Of 251 patients with aortic regurgitation, 107 (42.6%) had nonprosthetic operation. The mean age was 23 years, and 90 patients (84.1%) were rheumatic. Two techniques were used: repair (annular and leaflet plasties, 69 cases) and cusp extension with glutaraldehyde-treated pericardium (25 bovine, 13 autologous). There were two hospital deaths (1.8%), both in the repair group, and no late deaths or embolic events. Only 5 patients (4.7%) were anticoagulated. In the repair group there were 12 reoperations, four (5.9%) due to aortic and eight to mitral dysfunction. In the cusp extension group there were two reoperations due to mitral dysfunction. Echocardiographic follow-up showed better results with cusp extension. In conclusion, conservative operation for aortic regurgitation is possible in a high percentage of young rheumatic patients and does not require anticoagulation. Cusp extension is more reliable than repair in terms of early results, although its long-term durability is not yet known.     

Successful valve repair in traumatic aortic valve regurgitation

Case 1 was a 20-year-old male who had been involved in a traffic accident and developed aortic regurgitation (AR) eight months later. He was admitted with dilatation of the left ventricle. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed severe AR with perforation of the right coronary cusp. Case 2 was a 50-year-old male who had fallen from a height four months previously, and was admitted with congestive heart failure due to severe AR. TEE showed severe AR due to rupture of the right coronary cusp. In the former patient, valve repair was performed with a patch of autologous pericardium. In the latter patient, cusp reconstruction was performed with autologous pericardium and the commissural plication technique, achieving successful aortic valve repair.     

Aortic and mitral valve replacement for calcified valvular annulus in a dialysis patient; report of a case

A 77-year-old man on hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital due to heart failure. Echocardiography showed aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis and regurgitaion, and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Catheter examination revealed severe calcification at aortic valve and mitral valve including their annulus. At the operation, the calcifications of the aortic and mitral valvular annulus was removed using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA). Reconstructions of the defect of the posterior part of the mitral annulus and of the aortic annulus at the site of the left coronary cusp were achieved by patch technique using autologous pericardium. Aortic and mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Operative technique to remove calcification from valvular annulus using CUSA and reconstruct of the defect of the annulus with autologous pericardium is a very useful technique to prevent left ventricular rupture, perivalvular leakage and any other complications.     

Intrapericardial organized hematoma. A rare complication after open heart surgery.

Intrapericardial organized hematoma, which compresses cardiac chambers late after open heart surgery, is extremely rare. We report a case of intrapericardial organized hematoma in a 63-year-old man who underwent aortic valve replacement 8 years prior, which may have aggravated rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation compressing the mitral valve anulus. Under extracardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic heart arrest, we removed the hematoma and replaced the mitral valve with a 27 mm St. Jude Medical valve. There were no bleeding points on the heart and pericardium at operation and no history of blunt chest trauma. The etiology of the hematoma is uncertain.     

Intrapericardial organized hematoma

Intrapericardial organized hematoma, which compresses cardiac chambers late after open heart surgery, is extremely rare. We report a case of intrapericardial organized hematoma in a 63-year-old man who underwent aortic valve replacement 8 years prior, which may have aggravated rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation compressing the mitral valve anulus. Under extracardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic heart arrest, we removed the hematoma and replaced the mitral valve with a 27 mm St. Jude Medical valve. There were no bleeding points on the heart and pericardium at operation and no history of blunt chest trauma. The etiology of the hematoma is uncertain.     

单个主动脉瓣叶牛心包置换术治疗儿童室间隔缺损合并主动脉瓣反流

目的 探讨儿童单个主动脉瓣叶牛心包置换在室间隔缺损合并严重主动脉瓣反流患儿中的疗效。 方法回顾性分析2006年3月至2009年9月武汉亚洲心脏病医院室间隔缺损合并严重主动脉瓣关闭不全42例患儿行单个主动脉瓣叶牛心包置换术的临床资料。其中男28例、女14例,平均年龄2～14 （9.0±3.6） 岁。所有心功能分级（NYHA）均为Ⅱ级。 结果 手术没有死亡以及并发症的发生。术后即刻经食管超声心动图提示手术成功修复主动脉瓣,瓣叶均对合正常。所有患者主动脉瓣反流均在轻度以内,跨主动脉瓣峰压差为（14.2±2.8） mm Hg。住院时间11 d,没有任何不良症状。全组患者随访32～72 （50±16） 个月。术后心功能均为Ⅰ级,无反流17例,轻度反流21例,中度反流4例。跨主动脉瓣峰压差为（12.4±3.2） mm Hg。随访中无死亡和需要二次手术患者。随访观察中未见牛心包瓣叶结构性衰败。 结论 对于室间隔缺损合并重度主动脉瓣关闭不全的患者,单个主动脉瓣叶牛心包置换术具有良好的血流动力学和中期效果。     

Experiences with the Carpentier techniques of mitral valve reconstruction in 103 patients (1980-1985)

A total of 103 patients, age range 2 to 77 years, had some type of Carpentier reconstruction for mitral insufficiency. The mitral insufficiency resulted from ruptured chordae in 52, prolapse in 13, rheumatic fever in 16, coronary disease in eight, congenital disease in nine, and endocarditis in five. Multiple abnormalities were usually present. Four patients had severe calcification of the anulus. A reconstruction was accomplished in almost all patients. A ring annuloplasty was performed in all but two small children, but annuloplasty alone was adequate in only 17 patients. Fifty-eight had resection of 1 to 4 cm of diseased mitral leaflet. In 23 patients, chordal transposition or shortening was employed. Aortic leaflet repair was done in 28. Shortened, fused chordae (one to eight) were divided in 13 patients. Additional procedures performed in 28 patients included coronary bypass in 14. A successful repair was accomplished in all but one patient (moderate residual insufficiency). Two late hospital deaths were unrelated to the mitral repair. Following hospital discharge, ring dehiscence necessitated repeat operation in one patient. Thromboembolism produced a permanent minor neurological deficit in only one patient. There have been no late recurrences of insufficiency. Recurrent endocarditis necessitated valve replacement in three patients. A late Doppler evaluation of 95 patients for mitral insufficiency revealed none in 82, a trace in 12, and moderate insufficiency in one. Late catheterization in 16 patients revealed no insufficiency. The data suggest that reconstruction, rather than prosthetic valve replacement, can be successfully performed in over 90% of patients with nonrheumatic, noncalcified mitral valves. A much wider use of the technique seems strongly indicated.     

A lesional classification to standardize surgical management of aortic insufficiency towards valve repair

Objective: Aortic valve repair is an alternative to valve replacement for treatment of chronic aortic insufficiency (AI). In order to standardize surgical management, we suggest a classification based on echocardiographic and operative analysis of valvular lesions. Methods: Classification was based on the retrospective analysis of chronic AI mechanisms of 781 adults operated on electively between 1997 and 2003. Results: AI was isolated (406 patients (52%)), associated with supra-coronary aneurysm (97 cases (12.4%)), or with aortic root aneurysm (278 patients (35.6%)). Etiologies of valvular or aortic lesions were respectively rheumatic, dystrophic and atheromatous in 17%, 73.6% and 9.4% of cases. Lesional classification is based on the analysis of chronic AI mechanisms defining type I with central jet (354 cases, 45.3%) and type II with eccentric jet (54.7%). Type Ia is defined as isolated dilation of sino-tubular junction (47 supra-coronary aneurysms), and type Ib as dilation of both sino-tubular junction and aortic annular base (233 root aneurysms, 74 isolated AI). The type II associates dilation of sino-tubular junction and annular base to a valvular lesion: IIa cusp prolapse (95 aneurysms, 200 isolated AI); IIb cusp retraction (132 rheumatic AI), IIc cusp tear (endocarditis, traumatic). Conclusion: A lesional classification aims to standardize the surgical management of aortic valve repair: type Ia, by supra-coronary graft; type Ib, by subvalvular aortic annuloplasty associated with the aortic root replacement with a remodelling technique (root aneurysm) or double sub- and supravalvular annuloplasty (isolated AI). For chronic AI type II, aortic annuloplasty associated a remodelling technique or double sub- and supravalvular annuloplasty is combined with the treatment of the cusp lesion (cusp resuspension, cusp reconstruction with autologous pericardium).     

Valve-sparing operation for balloon-induced aortic regurgitation in congenital aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic regurgitation after balloon dilation of congenital aortic stenosis may be treated with valve repair as an alternative to replacement. METHODS: Charts and echocardiograms of all patients undergoing aortic valve operations after balloon dilation of congenital aortic stenosis at our institution between January 1988 and December 1999 were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients underwent valvuloplasty for predominant aortic regurgitation 9 months to 15 years (mean, 6.1 years) after balloon dilation. The mean +/- SD age at the time of the operation was 11 +/- 7 years. Aortic regurgitation was caused by a combination of commissural avulsion (10), cusp dehiscence with retraction (9), cusp tear (5), central incompetence (2), perforated cusp (1), or cusp adhesion to the aortic wall (1). Repair techniques included commissural reconstruction with a pericardial patch (8), pericardial patch cusp augmentation (6), primary suture repair (6), raphae release and debridement (4), commissurotomy (4), commissural resuspension with sutures (3), and cusp release (1). There were no deaths. At a mean follow-up of 30.1 months (range, 9 months-8 years), all patients were asymptomatic, and the grade of aortic regurgitation had been significantly reduced (P <.001). Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension z scores and proximal regurgitant jet/aortic anulus diameter ratios were significantly reduced (P <.001) and remained so over time. Freedom from reoperation for late failure was 100%, and overall freedom from reintervention was 80% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Aortic valve repair for balloon-induced aortic regurgitation is reproducible and durable at medium-term follow-up.     

Current status of surgery for rheumatic carditis in children

Background

The incidence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has increased recently in the western United States. We reviewed our 18-year surgical experience with RHD in children to examine current surgical techniques and results.

Methods

From 1985 until 2003, 596 children (<21 years) with rheumatic fever were seen at Primary Children's Medical Center. Rheumatic carditis was diagnosed in 366 patients (61.4%). Twenty-six with carditis (26/366, 7.1%) required operation for rheumatic valve disease including 8 for mitral regurgitation, 7 for mitral and aortic regurgitation, 4 for aortic regurgitation, 4 for mitral regurgitation and stenosis, 2 for combined mitral stenosis and regurgitation with aortic insufficiency, and 1 for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation.

Results

Mean age at operation was 13.5 ± 4 years. Three patients required operation during the acute phase of rheumatic fever (< 6 weeks), 2 during the subacute phase (< 6 months), and 21 during the chronic phase after the episode of rheumatic fever (6.7 ± 3 years). Mitral valve repair was possible in 19 of 22 patients who required mitral operation. Aortic valve repair was possible in 4 patients whereas replacement was necessary in 9, including 2 Ross procedures. No operative deaths were recorded and 2 late deaths occurred at 4.6 and 10 years. Actuarial survival was 94% at 5 years and 78% at 10 years. Six patients required reoperation; actuarial freedom from reoperation was 78% at 5 years, 65% at 10 years, and 49% at 15 years. All survivors are in New York Heart Association class I or II.

Conclusions

Children with RHD in the United States uncommonly require valve operation. Mitral repair with a technique that allows annular growth is possible in most children with good long-term functional results. Long-term surveillance of children with RHD is necessary because of the possible need for late valve operation.     

Valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in patients with complex mitral valve pathology

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation associated with complex mitral valve disease often precludes successful surgical repair. The feasibility and the results of valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium remain largely unknown. METHODS: The cases of 63 patients who underwent operation within an 11-year period were studied. A pretreated autologous pericardial patch was used for leaflet extension plasty, for paracommissural plasty, as a substitute for part of the leaflet, and for reimplantation of ruptured papillary muscles to eliminate severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with a severely calcified annulus after en bloc decalcification had straddling endoventricular pericardial patch annuloplasty for reconstruction of the affected atrioventricular groove. Chordal replacement with a strip of pericardium was chosen if no suitable chordae were available. Pericardium-reinforced suture annuloplasty was used in patients with acute endocarditis resistant to medical therapy. Associated valvuloplasty procedures with Carpentier techniques were also employed. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths in this series. At a mean follow-up of 61.1 months (range, 4 to 132 months), mitral regurgitation was absent or trivial in 92.1% of patients by echocardiography. Freedom from reoperation was 95.2% at 1 year and 5 years. Thromboembolic events have not been detected. Thirty percent of patients returned to sinus rhythm. Two patients required valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Our beneficial results indicate that glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is suitable for valvuloplasty. It provides durable and predictable repair of valves that might otherwise need to be replaced because of the complex mitral valve disease. The technique is reliable, allows further efficacious repair possibilities, and improves postoperative outcomes. Whether it can prevent late deterioration and calcification requires more investigation.     

Aortic valve replacement with the freestyle stentless bioprosthesis with respect to spacial orientation of patient coronary ostia

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates our results for safety and efficacy of aortic valve replacement using the Freestyle bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) with a new modified subcoronary implantation technique. This technique takes into account the spacial orientation of the stentless bioprosthesis in the aortic root with respect to the patient's coronary ostia rather than the native commissures. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with predominant aortic valve stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement with a Freestyle bioprosthesis by means of the described modified subcoronary technique over a 15-month period. Fifty of them were followed up by means of echocardiography at discharge, 6 months, and 1 year. There were 19 men and 31 women, with a mean age of 76 +/- 7 years (range, 58-87 years). Valve size ranged from 21 to 27 mm. RESULTS: Patients with bicuspid aortic valves had a significantly larger angle between both coronary ostia than patients with tricuspid aortic valves (P =.0001). The peak and mean systolic gradients decreased significantly during the first postoperative year for each valve size (P 相似文献   

Reconstructive Techniques for Rheumatic Aortic Valve Disease

Aortic valve reconstruction is still at an early stage of development. We report techniques that can be applied in the repair of rheumatic aortic valve disease in patients with concomitant mitral valve disease. The techniques described are: (1) commissurotomy, (2) cusp free edge unfolding, (3) annuloplasty, and (4) supraaortic crest enlargement. Fifty patients operated on between January 1974 and January 1986 with a hospital mortality of 6% were followed for a mean period of 7.7 years. Reoperation due to failure of mitral surgery was required in twelve patients, tricuspid regurgitation in two, and significant aortic regurgitation in four. These techniques, although applicable to a limited number of patients, have enabled us to avoid the problems of aortic valve replacement in many patients.