ABSTRACT
Left ventricular hypertophy (LVH) is an an important and independent cardiac risk factor in patients with aortic valve disease.1-7 Aortic stenosis is the most common underlying pathology in patients requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR). With aortic valve replacement, physiological haemodynamics and regression of LVH, namely left ventricular remodelling, can be achieved. Therefore valve replacement therapy improves the prognosis for the patient.1,8
Nevertheless, the ideal aortic valve prosthesis does not yet exist.9-11 In addition to mechanical or biological stented valves, stentless bioprostheses have been used more frequently in the past 10 years with good results.12-15 Morphologically, stentless bioprostheses resemble the native aortic valve.
