Technical modification of aortic valve replacement in aortitis syndrome--report of a case

In patients who have aortitis syndrome associated with aortic regurgitation, aortic valve replacement (AVR) is frequently complicated by perivalvular leakage (PVL). A 47-year-old male with aortitis syndrome and severe aortic regurgitation was treated by AVR, modified in such a way as to prevent PVL. The aortic cusps were not resected and were placed between Teflon pledgets and the aortic annulus. We believe that this technique is useful for preventing PVL in patients with aortitis syndrome in which the aortic annulus is severely inflammed.