Professional Technical IVT

aortic valve commissurotomy

Pronunciation: kom-ih-SHUR-ot-oh-mee

Surgical procedure involving division of fused commissures in a stenotic aortic valve to improve valve opening.

Full Definition

Aortic valve commissurotomy is a surgical technique used to treat aortic stenosis by carefully dividing the fused commissures (junction points between valve leaflets) to improve valve mobility and increase the effective orifice area. This procedure is most commonly performed in cases of congenital aortic stenosis, particularly in young patients where valve preservation is preferred over replacement. The technique requires precise surgical judgment to achieve adequate relief of stenosis while avoiding creation of significant aortic regurgitation. Commissurotomy may be performed as an open procedure or, in selected cases, using balloon valvuloplasty techniques.

Usage

Usage note: Distinguish from complete valve replacement or reconstruction procedures.

In Context

"Aortic valve commissurotomy was performed to address the congenital bicuspid valve stenosis in this pediatric patient." — operative report
"The commissurotomy successfully reduced the gradient across the aortic valve from 75 to 25 mmHg." — postoperative echocardiogram report

Also known as

aortic commissurotomy aortic valve repair

Contrasted with

aortic valve replacement

Don't confuse with

aortic valvuloplasty aortic valve reconstruction

aortic valve area ← Back to glossary aortic valve cusp plication