Percutaneous implantation of aortic valve prosthesis in patients with calcific aortic stenosis: technical aspects

In April 2002, after extensive ex-vivo and animal implantation studies, we performed the first successful implantation of a new percutaneous aortic valve in a patient with endstage aortic stenosis. The purpose of this article is to give a detailed description of the technique of percutaneous implantation of aortic valve bioprosthesis in patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis. Antegrade transeptal approach was used under local anesthesia and mild sedation.