What is the role of sutureless aortic valves in today’s armamentarium?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic bioprostheses represent an emerging and promising technology for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis. Unlike traditional aortic bioprostheses, these devices are not hand-sewn, thus allowing a significant reduction in operative times, while facilitating minimally invasive surgery and complex cardiac interventions. Sutureless aortic valve replacement represents a less invasive treatment option and an excellent alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement in elderly and higher risk patients.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the current literature on sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic bioprostheses, focusing on their hemodynamic and clinical performance. Moreover, we highlight clinical caveats associated with these devices and report the current recommendations for their use, as advocated by experts in the field.

Expert commentary: Finally, we summarize our group’s technical modification with regards to positioning of these bioprostheses and propose some technical aspects which could decrease post-procedural permanent pacemaker requirement.

KEYWORDS:

• Aortic valve replacement
• sutureless
• minimally invasive
• surgery
• review

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.