Aortic valve replacement with autologous pericardium: surgical technique.

The surgical technique of aortic valve replacement with freehand glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is described. Forty-nine patients underwent this procedure without hospital mortality and no thromboembolic episodes without anticoagulation. Three patients underwent reoperation: for infective endocarditis in two; and tear of one commissure 8 months after surgery in another. This technique because of its excellent hemodynamics and low thrombogenicity might be a valid alternative particularly in patients with a small aortic annulus.