Dealing with the small aortic annulus: are enlargement procedures obsolete?

Small aortic annulus

“…We appreciate the editor's letter by De Martino et al in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery and would like to respond to these comments 1 . We have described both anterior and posterior aortic root enlargement (ARE) procedures.…”

“…To the Editor, We appreciate the editor's letter by De Martino et al in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery and would like to respond to these comments. 1 We have described both anterior and posterior aortic root enlargement (ARE) procedures. In the procedures mentioned, the incisions are carried onto the annulus with resultant enlargement and subsequent patch repair.…”