Methods
We retrospectively reviewed our Aortic Valve Replacement database. We were able to identify 25 rapid deployment aortic valves (INTUITY Valve System, Edwards Life Sciences LLC,
Irvine, Calif) that had documented intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiographic Annular
measurements. Written consent was obtain from participants in the study. All of those valves were implanted in the Aortic position. In this cohort, we only included patients that had their native aortic valve replaced either isolated or as part of any additional procedure. Patients that underwent Intuity valve implantation for Redo Aortic valve replacement were excluded from this study.
Follow up was immediately post-operatively (1-3 weeks) and also at different intervals during the post-operative course (minimum 1 month) at which time an echocardiogram was performed. The mean age of our patient cohort was 68.3 (range: 55-75) years. Patients baseline characteristics are summarized on table 1. (age, concomitant procedures- cabg, mitral valve, tricuspid etc, approach sternotomy, upper sternotomy, right thoracotomy). Our Cardiac Anesthesiology team measured the aortic annulus prior to initiation of the operation using transesophageal echocardiography. Measurements were performed both in the long and short axis views. All measurements were appropriately documented, the implanted valve sizes were reviewed, and a correlation was concluded between Echocardiographic annular measurements and actual implanted valve sizes.