Operative management of the heavily calcified aortic valve.

Summary Calcific embolization is an ever-present hazard in the operative treatment of calcific aortic valvular disease. Routine careful surgical techniques are inadequate to consistently prevent its occurrence. Additional measures have included occlusion of coronary ostia during valve excision, packing of the left ventricular cavity with gauze, excision of the valve with an ultrahigh-speed drill, and saline irrigation of the left ventricle. Since these measures have been employed there has been no recognized peripheral embolus associated with aortic valve surgery. It is suggested that these measures be employed during operations on the calcified mitral valve also.