Minimal invasive implantation of an EDWARDS INTUITY rapid deployment aortic valve.

The development of rapid deployment and sutureless aortic valves represents a translation of knowledge gained from the performance of transcutaneous aortic valve replacement (AVR) procedures combined with decades of experience of conventional AVR surgery. Such devices have gained increasing clinical acceptance-particularly in Europe-with almost 3000 total implants to date. Rapid deployment and sutureless valves facilitate minimal invasive AVR and are associated with significantly reduced myocardial ischaemic and cardiopulmonary bypass times. The reduced ischaemic times may also be important for patients requiring complex combined procedures, or those with poor left ventricular function. These devices are associated with excellent haemodynamic performance and acceptable rates of pacemaker implantation and paravalvular leak. The current case involves a minimal invasive implantation of an EDWARDS INTUITY rapid deployment valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA).