Reconstructive techniques for rheumatic aortic valve disease.

Aortic valve reconstruction is still at an early stage of development. We report techniques that can be applied in the repair of rheumatic aortic valve disease in patients with concomitant mitral valve disease. The techniques described are: (1) commissurotomy, (2) cusp free edge unfolding, (3) annuloplasty, and (4) supraaortic crest enlargement. Fifty patients operated on between January 1974 and January 1986 with a hospital mortality of 6% were followed for a mean period of 7.7 years. Reoperation due to failure of mitral surgery was required in twelve patients, tricuspid regurgitation in two, and significant aortic regurgitation in four. These techniques, although applicable to a limited number of patients, have enabled us to avoid the problems of aortic valve replacement in many patients.