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The bicuspid aortic valve

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Aortic Root Surgery

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Abstract

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac malformation. Despite being a seemingly simple and harmless anatomic variation, BAV is said to cause more morbidity than any other congenital cardiac defect [52]. BAV may lead to aortic valve stenosis (AS) or regurgitation (AR), endocarditis, an ascending aortic aneurysm, and/or devastating dissection or rupture. Although these potential consequences of BAV were first described long ago [19, 35, 36], only recently have clinicians become fully aware that the presence of a BAV poses a serious health risk. However, the so-called bicuspid aortic valve syndrome [14] is extremely heterogeneous with some patients having rapidly progressive valve and/or aortic disease, while some individuals with BAV remain free of complications throughout their lifetime. In this article, we review current concepts regarding etiology, pathomechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of BAV with special emphasis on topics relevant for cardiac surgeons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany

    J. F. Matthias Bechtel MD, PhD & Hans-H. Sievers MD, PhD (Chairman, Professor of Surgery)

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  1. J. F. Matthias Bechtel MD, PhD
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  2. M. Misfeld
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  3. C. Schmidtke
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  4. Hans-H. Sievers MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin & Charité Medical University Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    Charles A. Yankah MD, PhD (Professor of Surgery Consutant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon), Yuguo Weng MD (Professor of Surgery) & Roland Hetzer MD, PhD (Chairman Professor of Surgery) (Professor of Surgery Consutant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon),  (Professor of Surgery) &  (Chairman Professor of Surgery)

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Bechtel, J.F.M., Misfeld, M., Schmidtke, C., Sievers, HH. (2010). The bicuspid aortic valve. In: Yankah, C.A., Weng, Y., Hetzer, R. (eds) Aortic Root Surgery. Steinkopff. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7985-1869-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7985-1869-8_9

  • Publisher Name: Steinkopff

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7985-1868-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7985-1869-8

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