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Guidelines for sizing pericardium for aortic valve leaflet grafts
Peter E Hammer1, Pedro J del Nido
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. peter.hammer@childrens.harvard.edu
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|July 3, 2013
Summary
Surgical aortic valve repair using pericardium grafts is effective, especially for children. Guidelines for sizing these grafts ensure optimal leaflet replacement and improved valve function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Aortic valve replacement poses significant challenges in pediatric patients.
- Autologous pericardium offers a viable alternative for aortic valve leaflet reconstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish precise guidelines for sizing pericardial grafts for single-leaflet aortic valve repair.
- To provide a method for adjusting graft dimensions based on individual valve characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing clinical experience and experimental data to determine optimal graft dimensions.
- Developing a semicircular graft sizing formula based on sinotubular junction diameter.
Main Results:
- A semicircular graft with a diameter 10-15% larger than the diastolic sinotubular junction diameter is recommended.
- A formula is provided for adjusting graft size to accommodate variations in valve geometry and tissue properties.
Conclusions:
- Sizing guidelines for autologous pericardium grafts facilitate successful single-leaflet aortic valve repair.
- This approach offers a promising alternative to valve replacement in pediatric patients.
- The provided formula enhances the adaptability of the technique to diverse patient anatomies.
