Minimally invasive transventricular implantation of pulmonary xenograft

Minimally invasive valve replacement is now a clinical reality. A number of ingenious techniques have been described for percutaneous aortic and pulmonary valve replacement as well as transventricular aortic valve replacement. We describe a technique for transventricular pulmonary valve replacement utilizing off-the-shelf bovine tissue valve, vascular stents, and simplified delivery system. After median sternotomy with limited exposure of the right ventricle, Contegra 200 pulmonary valve (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) is transfixed inside a CP stent (NuMed, Inc., Hopkinton, NY, USA) using multiple 5/0 prolene sutures. The valve/stent composite is crimped on a Cristal balloon catheter (Balt, Montmorency, France). The valve/stent and the balloon are then introduced via a small purse-string placed at the RVOT. The stent/valve composite is then expanded in the pulmonary valve position.