Coronary ostial enlargement to prevent stenosis after prosthetic aortic valve replacement.

Abstract

Iatrogenic left and/or right coronary artery ostial stenosis after aortic valve replacement is a rare but life-threatening complication. Although usually related to trauma to the ostium/a during cannulation for administration of cardioplegia, it may be rarely due to direct obstruction by the prosthetic annular ring or stent. We report herein an alternative technique to manage this complication when due to the latter event, successfully utilized at our institution over the last eleven years.