Aortic Valve Reconstruction in the Young Infants and Children

Considering the structure and function of the aortic root, changes in the aortic valve leaflets and changes in the geometry of the aortic root are the two primary causes of aortic valve dysfunction. In adults, aortic valve sparing reconstruction has a long history beginning in the 1970s, where tensor fascia was used for leaflet repair in patients with isolated aortic regurgitation and ascending aortic replacement was used in patients with ascending aortic aneurysms or aortic ectasia. Subsequent progress in the 1980s and 1990s led to pericardial leaflet replacement and aortic root re-implantation and remodeling. However, it has not been until the last decade that these concepts and techniques have been applied in younger patients focusing on the conotruncus, valvar apparatus, sino-tubular junction, and ascending aorta.