Cor Vasa 2021, 63(5):597-601 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2021.042

(PEARS implantation in a patient with ascending aortic dilation after bicuspidalization of aortic valve)

Albert Stehlík^a, Petr Fila^{a, b}, Daniela Žáková^a, Petr Němec^{a, b}

^a Centrum kardiovaskulární a transplantační chirurgie Brno, Brno

^b Klinika kardiovaskulární a transplantační chirurgie, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno

Ascending aortic dilation poses a risk of life-threatening aortic dissection. So far the only option for affected patients has been a timely replacement of their aortas with a vascular prosthesis. In 2004 a novel solution emerged to address the issue, i.e. wrapping the dilated aorta into an external supporting netted prosthesis. This method has been utilized in 408 (1/2021) patients around the world up to now and with growing experience the criteria for an indication of this type of treatment change accordingly.¹ PEARS (Personalised External Aortic Root Support) was devised initially for patients suffering from Marfan syndrome. However, it seems to be a viable option for various types of diseases causing dilation of the ascending aorta and it could offer these patients a safe and less invasive alternative to established methods of treatment. The case report describes an application of PEARS to prevent dissection in a patient with a dilating aorta, who was operated on ten years ago for a regurgitant unicuspid aortic valve.

Keywords: Aortic dilation, Bicuspid aortic valve, Dissection, PEARS, Reoperation

Received: March 7, 2021; Revised: March 29, 2021; Accepted: March 30, 2021; Published: October 20, 2021  Show citation