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Updated: May 21, 2026

Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
Reoperation on a Starr-Edwards ball valve without structural deterioration
Yukihiro Hayatsu1, Takeshi Saito, Osamu Adachi
1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryocho, Aoba ward, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. haya_two@yahoo.co.jp
Abstract:
Accurate measurement of pressure gradients on echocardiography across a Starr-Edwards (SE) ball valve is difficult due to its unique flow pattern. The decision of indication for reoperation on the valve requires multifactorical evaluation. We report a surgical case with an aortic SE ball valve 43 years after implantation. There was no apparent structural deterioration on the ball per se, yet, remarkable pannus formation was noted beneath the sewing cuff in the left ventricular outflow tract.
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