Aortic stenosis: surgical treatment under direct vision, using the heartlung machine.

Cardiac operation with the operative field under direct vision and the patient's oxygenation maintained by a heart-lung machine affords an excellent means of treating aortic stenosis, for it allows unlimited time in which to repair aortic stenosis no matter how involved the cusps are with calcium. The valves can be sculptured and the commissures cut at their place of fusion. Concomitant aortic insufficiency can also be taken care of at the same time, as can associated mitral valve stenosis and insufficiency. This method was used in ten patients. Two died. Eight were considerably improved.