Aortic root size in aortic valve disease Its measurement and significance

In 2 subjects who had a very small aortic root the surgical procedure of aortic valve replacement was greatly complicated, and obstruction of the aortic root and coronary arteries led to early death. All aortic valve replacements at the University of Wisconsin Hospital from 1963 through 1969 were reviewed. With use of the known catheter size as a reference, the size of the aortic root was calculated from preoperative cineangiocardiograms and correlated with the measurements made at operation. A significant correlation was found, especially with small aortic roots. It is stressed that the small aortic root should be recognized preoperatively when aortic valve replacement is contemplated.