"Martin Mattress": Surgical Technique for Achieving Hemostasis in Redo Aortic Root Operations

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Aortic valve dehiscence and aortic root abscesses are severe complications following cardiac surgery.
• Reoperative sternotomy is often required for managing these complex pathologies.
• Traditional methods for hemostasis in infectious aortic root cases have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical technique, the "Martin Mattress", for enhancing hemostasis.
• To evaluate the utility of the "Martin Mattress" in patients with aortic valve dehiscence and aortic root abscess.
• To compare the "Martin Mattress" technique with modified Cabrol fistula in infectious aortic root pathology.

Main Methods:

• The study involved a 71-year-old gentleman with a history of bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement.
• The patient underwent reoperative sternotomy for aortic valve dehiscence and aortic root abscess.
• A novel pericardial patch technique, the "Martin Mattress", was implanted to augment hemostasis.

Main Results:

• The "Martin Mattress" involves suturing a pericardial patch to the fibrous ridge within the great vessels and cardiac structures.
• This technique was applied during aortic root, mitral valve, and hemiarch replacement.
• The "Martin Mattress" effectively augmented hemostasis in this complex infectious aortic root case.

Conclusions:

• The "Martin Mattress" technique is a viable and preferred method for augmenting hemostasis in infectious aortic root pathology.
• This technique offers an alternative to modified Cabrol fistula in managing complex aortic root complications.
• Further studies may be warranted to establish the long-term efficacy and broader application of the "Martin Mattress".