Proposes a novel, repair-oriented anatomical classification system for bicuspid aortic valves to help guide and predict appropriate surgical repair techniques.
The BAV phenotypes follow a continuous spectrum that extends from symmetrical to very asymmetrical BAV. We describe the main anatomical parameters (including commissure orientation, length of fusion and non-functional commissure height) and their variation across this spectrum. We propose a new repair-oriented classification system based on those parameters that can be used to predict valve repair techniques. This classification needs further validation with regards to surgical techniques and long-term outcomes.
Kerchove et al. (Tue,) studied this question.