Aortic valve repair: the functional approach to leaflet prolapse and valve-sparing surgery.

Background: Combined aortic valve repair and aortic valve-sparing surgery requires an approach determined by the leaflets and aortic root anatomy.

Methods: Among patients referred for aortic root aneurysm, 114 patients underwent an aortic valve-sparing procedure in which a reimplantation or remodelling technique was used. The Gelweave Valsalva prosthesis (Sulzer Vascutek, Renfrewshire, UK) was used in 45 patients.