The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 21, 131-133, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Aortic valve replacement without left heart decompression
H Najafi, H Javid, MD Goldin and C Serry
Conventionally, during aortic valve replacement the left ventricle is
vented to achieve a dry field, remove air, and prevent ventricular
distention. This report demonstrates the feasibility of performing aortic
valve replacement without cannulation of either the left ventricle or the
left atrium. The technique has been utilized in 54 patients with 1 early
death due to pulmonary embolism and 1 late death presumably secondary to
ventricular arrhythmias.