Influence of Original Native Aortic Valve Lesion (Stenosis or Steno-insufficiency vs. Insufficiency) on Post-implant Structural Bioprosthetic Degeneration After Aortic Valve Replacement

"All operations were performed through median longitudinal sternotomy or mini-sternotomy.~8 Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was used in all patients. Arterial cannulation was central and venous cannulation was achieved with a common two-stage cannula in the right atrium. Left ventricle was vented through the right superior pulmonary vein. In minimally invasive procedures, venous cannulation was achieved percutaneously. Myocardial protection was achieved by administration of cold crystalloid or blood cardioplegia at the surgeon's discretion in an antegrade (indirect or selective) or retrograde fashion. The removal of the calcified cusps and the decalcification of the annulus was performed according to traditional techniques. All the prosthesis were be implanted with supranular technique and 2-0 U-shaped pledgeted sutures."