Correction of Aortic Regurgitation Using Plastic Valves

Abstract

Pure aortic regurgitation has been corrected in 22 patients by means of an artificial trileaflet plastic valve made from Teflon fabric which was lightly filmed with polyurethane. One patient died 24 hours postoperatively from a hemorrhagic diathesis involving the small intestine and mesentery. Two other patients died 8 and 10 weeks postoperatively from a bacterial endocarditis. The others have continued to do well. Pre- and postoperative roentgenographic electrocardiographic, phonocardiographic, hemodynamic, and cineangiographic studies indicate normal function of the valve following surgery. The authors recommend that surgical correction be performed before progressive irreversible left ventricular failure can occur. Longterm evaluation is not yet possible, but the benefit derived in over a year's time was far superior to that obtained from other techniques used in the past.