Journal of cardiac surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Hemodynamic comparison between Trifecta and freestyle aortic valve during exercise in patients with small aortic root.
Patients with a small aortic annulus, that is ≤ 23 mm, constitute a challenge for the surgeon, because they are at high risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch. Stentless valves provide better hemodynamic performance at rest and during exercise than stented valves, and are advocated in this group of patients. A new-generation stented valve, the Trifecta (St. Jude), has recently become available with improved hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic performance of Freestyle (Medtronic) and Trifecta at rest and during exercise in patients with a small aortic annulus. ⋯ Both the stented Trifecta and stentless Freestyle prostheses provide excellent hemodynamic results during physical stress in patients with a small aortic annulus. Our study confirms that Trifecta implantation results in low gradients at rest and during exercise and that the performance of Trifecta is similar to that of a stentless valve.