Valve sparing root replacement is an alternative aortic root replacement procedure to total root replacement. In VSRR the patient’s own aortic valve leaflets are retained and re-implanted within an artificial tubular graft that replaces the weakened aorta.
The advantage of this approach is that lifetime anticoagulant therapy is not required. The downside is that re-operation (to manage aortic valve malfunction) is not uncommon. The procedure is only available in larger cardiac surgery centres and requires cardiopulmonary bypass.
It has two principal variants known as the David procedure or Yacoub procedure.
