Comparison of the Dacron ring and suture annuloplasty for aortic root repair: anin vitroevaluation

Increasing evidence shows that annular stabilization is essential in most aortic valve repair procedures. However, a standardized comparison of the 2 commonly used annuloplasty procedures is lacking. We hypothesized that the Dacron ring is more rigid than the polytetrafluoroethylene suture, whereas both procedures decrease annular dimensions. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of the ring and suture techniques with native aortic roots in vitro.