Aortic valve sparing operations: basic concepts

Aortic valve sparing surgery offers a unique opportunity to save the normal aortic valve in patients who require surgery for aortic root disease such as aneurysms, annuloaortic ectasia or aortic dissection. The surgical anatomy of the aortic root and the basic concepts of aortic valve sparing surgery are reviewed to provide surgeons and cardiologists a better understanding of when such operations might be suitable.