Introduction
Sutureless/rapid deployment valves provide the surgeon with a new tool
for aortic valve
replacement (AVR) therapy, which can simplify the procedure. The main
concern about
sutureless/rapid deployment valves is the development of paravalvular
leak. The incidence varies between 1-7%, and is associated with
detrimental sequelae for the patient (1,2,3). In this series we would like to
share our experience with using intraoperative Transesophageal
Echocardiography to reliably predict the size of the rapid deployment
prosthetic valve by measuring the native aortic annulus. This will
hopefully provide the surgeon with extra assurance on valve sizing
during rapid deployment Aortic valve replacement and minimize the
possibility of paravalvular leak.