The surgical correction of calcific aortic stenosis in adults: I. Technique of transaortic valvuloplasty

1. (1) The life cycle of adults with calcific aortic stenosis is discussed. The ominous significance of left ventricular failure, even as manifested by dyspnea on exertion, is emphasized. 2. (2) A transaortic technique for the correction of this condition is presented. The substantial advantages of using a special Ivalon operating tunnel are reviewed. 3. (3) In the first 100 cases there have been 12 late deaths and 16 operative deaths. The operative mortality has been reduced to 5 in the last 60 consecutive patients. 4. (4) Eighty-six per cent of the surviving patients followed from 6 to 36 months are improved. 5. (5) The gratifying salvage from this fatal disease encourages further use of this method of surgical relief.