Aortic Root Replacement Using a Modified Composite Valve Graft

Objectives We used a modified technique of a composite graft by moving the valve prosthesis away from the end into the inside of the tube and compared the effectiveness of this surgical method with the standard valved conduits. Methods Through a prospective nonrandomized clinical study between March 2011 and June 2012, we performed replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta in 30 consecutive patients using a valved composite graft with a mechanical valve prosthesis. A modified self-assembled valved composite graft was employed in 20 patients (Modified group), while the remaining 10 patients received the standard composite graft (Control group). Results There was significantly less bleeding in the patients with modified grafts (184 vs. 415 mL, p