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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
Ten-Year Survival With a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device and Aortic Valve Closure
George V Letsou1,2, Fadi I Musfee3, Andrew D Lee2,4
1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery and Department of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation and Center for Cardiac Support, Texas Heart Institute, The University of Texas School of Public Health; Houston, Texas 77030.
Abstract:
We report the long-term survival of a 46-year-old man supported with a HeartMate II continuous-flow left ventricular assist device after complex repair of a bicuspid aortic valve, anomalous left main coronary artery, and dilated aorta. He has been maintained on an anticoagulation regimen of warfarin and low-dose aspirin without problems for 10 years, during which he has worked continuously and productively. Device flow has been kept at 10,000 rpm. Possible contributors to this long-term success include proper alignment of the device inflow cannula, pericardial patch closure of the left ventricular outflow tract, and, notably, the remarkable freedom from mechanical failure of the continuous-flow left ventricular assist device. Whether the higher flow rate produced by the pericardial patch closure contributes to pump longevity is unknown and merits further investigation.
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