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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;27:1128
© 2005 Elsevier Science NL

Letter to the Editor

Ventricular myocardial band and Ross operation

Alder Hey Royal Children Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK

Received 2 February 2005; accepted 3 February 2005.

^* Tel.: +44 151 2525 713; fax: +44 151 2525 643. (E-mail: antonio.corno{at}rlc.nhs.uk).

Key Words: Anatomy • Aortic valve • Autograft • Ross operation • Surgery • Valve disease

I have read with great attention and interest your Editorial [1], since I have the privilege of being one of the believers that the ventricular myocardial band is a fact and not a fiction [2].

With regard to your comments related to the dissection plan used for the Ross operation, in fact during a pulmonary autograft preparation for the Ross operation it becomes quite evident that the pulmonary valve and the right ventricle constitute a separate entity attached simply through a thin layer of muscle, as already published by Mr Donald Ross himself discussing the ventricular myocardial band, as dissected by Dr Francisco Torrent-Guasp [3].

Because of the above observation, the preparation of the pulmonary autograft should be performed with a minimal amount of muscle, not to be used as a supporting structure, to prevent subsequent pulmonary autograft regurgitation, as confirmed by the clinical results [4].

The present Editorial confirms that the new concepts on cardiac anatomy and physiology proposed by Dr Francisco Torrent-Guasp deserve for further and deeper investigations, performed with adequate curiosity, and without nihilism. Only in this way it will be possible to investigate not only potentially improvements of the treatment of acquired heart disease but also the comprehension and management of complex congenital heart defects [5].

References

1. von Segesser LK. The myocardial band: fiction or fact?. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;27:181-182.[Free Full Text]
2. Torrent-Guasp F, Kocica MJ, Corno AF, Komeda M, Carreras-Costa F, Flotats A, Cosin-Aguillar J, Wen H. Towards new understanding of the heart structure and function. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;27:191-201.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
3. Ross DN. The morphology of the pulmonary root in relation to the human heart. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:976.[Free Full Text]
4. Corno AF, Hurni M, Griffin H, Jeanrenaud X, von Segesser LK. Glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine jugular vein as a substitute for the pulmonary valve in the Ross operation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;122:493-494.[Free Full Text]
5. Corno AF, Marino B. Spiral pattern: universe, normal heart and complex congenital heart defects. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003;126:1225-1226.[Free Full Text]

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Antonio F. Corno Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Corno, A. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Corno, A. F. Related Collections Education Congenital - acyanotic Valve disease