Aortic root morphometry revisited-Clinical implications for aortic valve interventions

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Anatomy
• Cardiac Morphology
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• The aortic root's complex anatomy is critical for cardiac surgical and transcatheter interventions.
• Accurate morphological data of the non-diseased aortic root is essential for procedural planning and device development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively describe the morphometry of the non-diseased human aortic root.
• To establish baseline anatomical data for the aortic root, including dimensions and spatial relationships of its components.

Main Methods:

• Morphometric analysis of 200 autopsied adult human hearts.
• Meticulous macroscopic examination of aortic root anatomy, including cross-sectional areas and depths of sinuses.
• Statistical analysis, including regression modeling, to identify predictors of aortic root dimensions.

Main Results:

• The coaptation center plane exhibited the largest cross-sectional area (653.9 mm²), followed by the tubular plane (427.7 mm²) and basal ring (362.7 mm²).
• The right coronary sinus was largest in area, while the noncoronary sinus was deepest.
• Age and sex were significant predictors for the dimensions of the coaptation center plane, tubular plane, and basal ring.

Conclusions:

• This study offers a detailed morphometric characterization of the non-diseased aortic root.
• The findings provide a foundational dataset for understanding aortic root structure-function relationships and improving cardiac interventions.