Aortic Valve Leaflets Reconstruction (Ozaki Procedure) in Aortic Valve Diseases

Heart valve disease signifies a severe growing public health problem in developing countries, with aortic valve stenosis being the most common issue. Heart valve disease is commonly initiated by atherosclerotic degenerative processes, congenital anomalies, or rheumatic process. Aortic valve replacement is the gold standard in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. Mechanical valves are favoured in younger patients (<60 years) owing to longer life-time, whereas biological valves are used for elderly patients in order to evade oral anticoagulation.

Options for aortic valve disease have improved in the last era including replacement, repair, and reconstructive options. A variety of creative techniques including leaflet extensions, neo-leaflet creation, resuspension or plication of prolapsing leaflets, and commissuroplasty to repair valves have been officially become skilled at, specially in pediatric population . In adults, the introduction of trans-catheter aortic valve inserting now permits treatment of degenerative aortic stenosis in the oldest and the highest risk patients. However, surgical treatment choices for pediatric patients with complex congenital aortic valve disease stay restricted.

In recent years, much attention has been given to the Ozaki procedure, an alternative way of repairing aortic valve, involving the use of autologous pericardium for the aortic leaflet reconstruction. Diseased leaflets are removed carefully. The distance between each commissure is measured with invented sizing apparatus. The new leaflet of the size corresponding to the measured value is trimmed with an original template from glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium. Finally, the annular margin of the pericardial leaflet was running sutured with each annulus. Commissural coaptation was secured with additional sutures. The coaptation of three new leaflets were always insured with direct vision.

Inclusion criteria

• Subject with AV disease.
• Documented symptomatic moderate or greater aortic stenosis
• small aortic annulus patients
• A symptomatic aortic insufficiency patient with left ventricular dysfunction or significant left ventricular dilatation.
• Patients with aortic regurgitation caused by: a dilated aortic annulus, conjoined cusp prolapse in bicuspid aortic valves (BAV), single cusp prolapse in tricuspid aortic valve (especially in paediatric population), and aortic valve cusp perforation from endocarditis.
• Concomitant intervention of the aortic root, Concomitant intervention of the aortic arch, Concomitant valve surgery and Concomitant intervention at congenital anomaly.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with previous aortic valve surgery.
• missing informed consent
• Participation in another clinical research.