The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2023
Effect of leaflet laceration on transcatheter aortic valve replacement fluid mechanics and comparison with surgical aortic valve replacement.
Leaflet thrombosis after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be caused by blood flow stagnation in the native and neosinus regions. To date, aortic leaflet laceration has been used to mitigate coronary obstruction following TAVR; however, its influence on the fluid mechanics of the native and neosinus regions is poorly understood. This in vitro study compared the flow velocities and flow patterns in the setting of SAVR vs TAVR with and without aortic leaflet lacerations. ⋯ Leaflet laceration augmented TAVR native and neosinus flow fields, approaching that of SAVR. These findings may have potential clinical implications for the use of single or multiple leaflet lacerations to reduce leaflet thrombosis and thus potentially improve TAVR durability.