A Quantitative Study of Calcium Deposition in the Aortic Wall following MedtronicFreestyle Compared with Homograft Aortic Root Replacement.A Prospective Randomized Trial Giovanni Melina MD, Michael B. Rubens FRCR, Emma J. Birks MRCP, Federico Bizzarri MD, Asghar Khagani FRCS, Magdi H. Yacoub FRS Homograft and Medtronic Freestyle valves share theoretical advantages such as superior hemodynamic performance and enhanced durability, especially as a root replacement. These potential advantages depend on the preservation of valve component flexibility, but aortic wall calcification may adversely affect this phenomenon. We have conducted a prospective randomized trial to evaluate the calcification process in the aortic wall by means of electron beam computed tomography after aortic root replacement with homograft or Freestyle valves. Postoperative calcification in the Freestyle valve remains low during the first 18 months. By the end of this period, calcification in the Freestyle valve appeared to be slightly lower than that in homografts. Electron beam computed tomography provides a useful tool for the detection and quantitation of calcium in the aortic wall of valve grafts.

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