Longer-term outcomes after bicuspid aortic valve repair in 142 patients

Reply to Jasinski M et al.: "Indeed, there is still room for improvement in long-term durability of BAV repair"

We read the letter to the editor by Dr Jasinski et al. entitled "Long-term durability of valve-sparing or repair procedures in BAV-Is there room for improvement?" with great interest.

Bicuspid aortic valve repair: An ongoing struggle in material science

BACKGROUND

Techniques and results of aortic valve repair remain challenging.

AIMS

Safari et al. seek to improve aortic valve repair by either aortic patching or valve sparing root replacement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The results of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair in 142 patients were examined withor without valve sparing root replacement.

RESULTS

Isolated BAV repair with or without valve sparing root replacement provided goodclinical outcomes with relatively low reoperation rate and durable valve function.

DISCUSSION

While clinical outcome from BAV repair was generally good, the authors have stopped pericardial patch augmentation of BAV leaflets due to suboptimal durability.

CONCLUSION

Thelack of a durable valve patch material and the modest durability of BAV repairin general point out that aortic valve repair remains an ongoing struggle inmaterial science.