Haemorrhage in the Interventricular Septum After Aortic Valve Surgery

Abstract

During the last 11/a years period, 128 Starr-Edwards aortic valve prostheses have been implanted. Nineteen patients (15%) died in the hospital, 3 of them developed left bundle branch block followed by total A-V block and ventricular fibrillation early in the postoperative period. The necropsy findings were subendo-cardial haemorrhage around the prostheses and at the base of the interventricular septum involving the bundle of His. The decalcification procedure in the area of the non-coronary cusp and the underlying tissue should be carried out with care.