Aortic Valve Repair and Early-Career Surgeons—Nothing Is Impossible

Abstract

Aortic valve repair with either the reimplantation of the aortic valve or aortic root remodelling with the external annuloplasty procedure is the most effective means of treating aortic regurgitation and/or aortic root aneurysms [...]

25th anniversary of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University Medical Center Maribor: advancing hearts, changing lives

“…We address all adult cardiac and major vascular pathologies (with exceptions such as long-term mechanical support for heart failure and transplantation activities). Our current surgical portfolio includes surgery for ischemic heart diseases (with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, multiarterial grafting, minimally invasive myocardial revascularization [ 3 , 4 ] and surgical treatment of complications, such as ventricular septal defects, myocardial ruptures and left ventricular aneurysms), aortic valve replacement with mechanical or stented bioprostheses, aortic valve repair and valve-sparing aortic root replacement (both reimplantation and remodelling with external annuloplasty) [ 5 ], minimally invasive aortic [ 6 ] and mitral valve surgery [ 7 , 8 ], mitral valve repair and replacement [ 9 ], surgical treatment of any heart valve endocarditis, surgery for tricuspid or pulmonary valve disease, aortic surgery (aortic dissection, ascending and arch aneurysms including the frozen elephant trunk procedure [ 10 ], trauma to the great vessels), surgery for atrial fibrillation [ 11 ], pericardiectomy, surgery for cardiac neoplasms, temporary mechanical circulatory support (intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) [ 12 , 13 ] and carotid endarterectomy. In addition, we provide surgical assistance and standby for various interventional cardiological (percutaneous coronary interventions, transcatheter aortic valve implantations [ 14 , 15 ], interventional treatment for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias) or radiological (thoracic endovascular aortic repair) procedures.…”