Development And Clinical Approval Of An Apico – Aortic Conduit For Aortic Valve Replacement In Severe Calcified Aortic Stenosis

Dr. Mathias Wilhelmi, MHH, Germany

The primary aim of the project is the development and clinical approval of a surgical alternative approach for aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis. Realization should be achieved by the minimlally invasive, extraanatomic and under beating heart conditions performed implantation of a valve bearing apico – aortic conduit. The conduit directly connects the apex region of the left ventricle and the thoracic descending aorta (Fig-1). Main characteristics of the approach can be summarized as avoidance of extracorporal circulation and direct manipulation of calcified structures. In concordance with an optimized design of the prothesis (canula) a faster, less traumatising and minimally invasive implantation is expected, which through significantly lowering morbidity and mortality rates hopefully will result in a significant reduction of primary and secondary treatment related costs, i.e. in the older patients cohort.

Fig.-1: Principle of the apico – aortic conduit

Extraanatomic implantation site, connecting the apex region of the left ventricle with the thoracic descending aorta. Direct manipulations, excision and replacement, which are necessary steps for conventional aortic valve replacement, are completely avoided by this approach.