Bicuspid aortic valve repair: An ongoing struggle in material science.

Background: Techniques and results of aortic valve repair remain challenging.

Aims: Safari et al. seek to improve aortic valve repair by either aortic patching or valve sparing root replacement.

Materials And Methods: The results of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair in 142 patients were examined withor without valve sparing root replacement.

Results: Isolated BAV repair with or without valve sparing root replacement provided goodclinical outcomes with relatively low reoperation rate and durable valve function.

Discussion: While clinical outcome from BAV repair was generally good, the authors have stopped pericardial patch augmentation of BAV leaflets due to suboptimal durability.

Conclusion: Thelack of a durable valve patch material and the modest durability of BAV repairin general point out that aortic valve repair remains an ongoing struggle inmaterial science.