Introduction:
In patients with aortic insufficiency (AI), preserving the native aortic
valve (AV) through valve repair has been shown to reduce valve-related
complications and improve survival compared to surgical AV
replacement1. Valve-sparing aortic root replacement
(VSARR) also carries similar to improved morbidity and mortality
compared to valve-replacing root replacement; therefore, improving valve
repair techniques is of significant interest2. AV
repair typically includes annuloplasty to reduce annular diameter and
prevent later annular dilatation and reintervention3.
The hemispherical aortic annuloplasty reconstructive technology (HAART)
is an internal geometric annuloplasty ring designed to restore a natural
elliptical shape to the aortic annulus, unlike other annuloplasty
methods (Biostable Science and Engineering, Inc.). Noninvasive
4-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful
diagnostic tool to characterize the complex hemodynamics present in AV
disease4. We present the first 4D MR hemodynamic
analysis of aortic flow before and after placement of the HAART internal
annuloplasty ring.