Current role and techniques of the david operation

Abstract

Aortic root aneurysms in young adults are often associated with degenerative changes in the fibrous skeleton of the heart which causes dilatation of the aorto-ventricular junction. This type of degenerative process is also frequently associated with incompetent bicuspid aortic valves. Reimplantation of the aortic valve (David operation) into a cylindrical Dacron graft has proven to be an effective and durable aortic valve-sparing operation in these patients as long as the aortic cusps are normal or minimally stretched. Older patients with aortic root aneurysm and normal aorto-ventricular junction can also be treated by this operation with similarly satisfactory long-term results.