External aortic root support for Marfan syndrome: early clinical results in the first 20 recipients with a bespoke implant.

Objectives: Fatal aortic dissection occurs at young age in Marfan syndrome. Prevention relies on elective replacement of the aortic root. The placement of an external aortic root support, tailored to the anatomy of the individual patient has been proposed as a feasible alternative.

Tricuspid leaflet augmentation to address severe tethering in functional tricuspid regurgitation.

This paper describes a technique for treating severe tricuspid regurgitation due to severe tethering of the tricuspid valve leaflets. The anterior tricuspid leaflet is augmented by use of an autologous pericardial patch, which increases its size, and hence its surface area of coaptation, allowing increased leaflet coaptation to occur with reduced tension within the right ventricle. A Carpentier-Edwards annuloplasty ring is then implanted.