Transcatheter-based aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provides a reliable and attractive
alternative to the established gold standard of classic aortic valve replacement in
patients with severe comorbidities carrying an unacceptably high perioperative risk.
Despite the minimally invasive nature of the transfemoral approach, the transapical
route remains an attractive alternative allowing antegrade valve deployment. Purse-string
sutures with interrupted Teflon pledgets represent the classic approach for secure
closure of the transapical access site. We describe herein a simple yet effective
and time-saving linear technique for apical closure following transapical TAVI.
Keywords
heart valve prosthesis - aortic valve - replacement
