Management of annuloaortic ectasia in association with aortic regurgitation

Annuloaortic ectasia associated with severe aortic regurgitation is usually managed by implanting a composite graft that comprises both valve and conduit. Synthetic valved conduits have been used by most cardiovascular surgeons, with various modifications in the technique. Yet prosthetic valves carry the risks associated with anticoagulation therapy, together with an increased risk of infective endocarditis. We report a case in which a cryopreserved aortic homograft was used for a Bentall procedure in a patient who had annuloaortic ectasia with severe aortic regurgitation. To the best of our knowledge, there are no prior published reports of homograft insertion in treatment of annuloaortic ectasia.