Four novel suture-sealing techniques to repair varying size paravalvular leaks.

BACKGROUND: Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a well-known complication of aortic valve replacement. Currently, there is no consensus on optimal intraoperative management of patients with mild-to-moderate or moderate PVL. TECHNIQUE: In this paper we present four novel surgical techniques, each combining suturing with sealing technique, to repair aortic PVLs, nullifying the need to replace the prosthesis.
CONCLUSION: These techniques will offer cardiac surgeons new alternatives to the repair techniques currently used.