The Correction of Aortic Insufficiency with a Spring Valve Prosthesis

Abstract

The control of aortic insufficiency has been sought for many years. The clinical trial of the distally placed Hufnagel valve has met with some degree of success.¹ However, a method of control at the site of the leak has been sought in order to improve coronary perfusion as well as the one-third of the circulation not controlled with a distally placed prosthesis. Many methods of proximal control, too numerous to enumerate here, have been tried, but none have met with general success. The incompetent valve of aortic insufficiency, except for the traumatically ruptured cusp, is thickened, fibrotic, and some times calcified. The leaflets may move freely, or there may be some restriction of motion. The site of the leak, although often eccentric, seldom occurs at the periphery. In the laboratory, after having been encouraged by the valvulogenic properties of the nylon-covered spring valve placed in the mitral area, the