[Aortic valve replacement using Medtronic Freestyle stentless porcine xenograft]

We analyzed the left ventricular hemodynamic changes after aortic valve replacement using Medtronic Freestyle stentless valve. Doppler echocardiograms were performed at three weeks and three months after operation in twelve patients. Both left ventricular end-diastolic volume (index) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (index) were decreased respectively. Fractional shortening were markedly increased from 21.4 +/- 7% to 31.8 +/- 3.8%, and left ventricular mass index were markedly decreased from 194.3 +/- 25.3 g/m2 to 182.3 +/- 24.4 g/m2. Transvalvular pressure gradient measured by cardiac catheterization were almost zero mmHg at three weeks after operation. No aortic regurgitation were found in all cases. Good left ventricular remodeling were obtained so that we believe this valve could be acceptable alternative for many surgeons. These excellent results justify wider use of stentless valve.