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Sorin Solo stentless valve: extended adaptability for sinotubular junction mismatch

Department of Cardiac Surgery, European Hospital, Via Portuense 700, 00149 Rome, Italy

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-06-65975224, fax: +39-06-65975112.

E-mail address: depauli{at}tin.it (R. De Paulis).

Stentless valve continence is affected by the implantation technique, annular symmetry and dilatation of the sinotubular junction. We tested in vitro how the Sorin Solo stentless pericardial valve adapts to a slightly dilated sinotubular junction. Stentless Sorin Solo aortic valves (25 mm) were sutured into a 32-mm Valsalva graft suspending the commissures into the expandable region of the graft. The neo-aortic root was pressurized and sinotubular junction size progressively decreased by wrapping the neocommissural ridge with Dacron rings. Direct endoscopic view and ultrasound imaging were used to observe geometry and morphology of leaflets, regurgitation, height and level of leaflets coaptation. Fresh porcine valves of the same annular size were used as controls. Solo valves had mild regurgitation at baseline, became continent at 32 mm sinotubular junction size and remained continent at any size of reduction, with optimal coaptation height and level. Porcine valves had severe regurgitation at baseline, became continent at 30 mm and showed mild insufficiency and reduction of the coaptation level at a sinotubular junction of 28 mm. The Solo valve prevents residual valve regurgitation for a wider range of sinotubular junction mismatch when compared with natural porcine valves. This extended tolerance to sinotubular junction mismatch suggests a safe use of stentless valves even in suboptimal geometry roots.

Key Words: Aortic valve; Replacement; Heart valve; Stentless; Bioprosthesis; Echocardiography