Modified Danielson Technique for Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis and Aortoventricular Discontinuity

Endocarditis is a devastating complication of prosthetic aortic valve replacement. The infective process can destroy aortic annulus tissue, making conventional surgical valve replacement difficult or impossible and causing aortoventricular discontinuity. Several treatment techniques have been proposed. One of these, the Danielson technique, involves translocating the aortic valve to the native ascending aorta, débriding the abscess cavity, closing the coronary ostia, and bypassing the coronary arteries with a Y anastomosis between 2 vein grafts. We describe our use of a modified Danielson technique in a 68-year-old man with advanced prosthetic valve endocarditis that was associated with aortic annulus destruction and aortoventricular discontinuity. This modified technique enables safer, more secure anchoring of a replacement valve, reduces the risks and concerns associated with bypass grafts, and successfully treats aortoventricular discontinuity.