The Aortic Valve Bypass (AVB) configuration is shown in the accompanying figure. The implanted conduit contains a durable bioprosthetic valve. Blood is shunted from the apex of the left ventricle to the descending thoracic aorta. The majority of blood flow bypasses the diseased aortic valve, thereby relieving the LVOT obstruction. About 30% of blood continues to flow through the native valve.
Aortic Valve Bypass is not a new procedure. A small number of surgeons have performed over 1,000 AVB operations over the past 35 years to treat the highest-risk, no-option AS patients. Over the past several years, AVB has gained attention due to the ageing population and the inherent advantages of the procedure.
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