AORTIC-VALVE REPLACEMENT WITH AUTOLOGOUS PERICARDIUM - SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

The surgical technique of aortic valve replacement with freehand gluta raldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is described. Forty-nine pati ents underwent this procedure without hospital mortality and no thromb oembolic episodes without anticoagulation. Three patients underwent re operation: for infective endocarditis in two; and tear of one commissu re 8 months after surgery in another. This technique because of its ex cellent hemodynamics and low thrombogenicity might be a valid alternat ive particularly in patients with a small aortic annulus.