Safety and Feasibility of a Nonpledgeted Suture Technique for Heart Valve Replacement

This single institution retrospective study examined the utility of using nonpledgeted sutures for aortic valve replacement. In short-term follow-up, 3.6% of patients had insignificant perivalvular leak and 0.9% had significant perivalvular leak requiring reoperation. This technique has the potential benefits of reduced cross-clamp time, reduced risk of decreasing the effective orifice area, reduced cost, and reduced indwelling foreign body.