Anatomy of the Aortic Valvar Complex and Its Implications for Transcatheter Implantation of the Aortic Valve

The books and articles devoted to the anatomy of the aortic valvar complex are numerous. Until now, however, little consideration has been given to understanding the anatomy with percutaneous valvar replacement in mind. It is axiomatic that knowledge of the anatomy of the valve is fundamental in understanding key principles involved in valvar replacement. Such an appreciation of the anatomy helps better understand the optimal positioning for the prosthetic valve within the root of the aorta with respect to the coronary arteries, mitral valve, and the conduction system and may circumvent complications that can arise during its implantation. In this review, therefore, we describe the anatomy of the trifoliate aortic valvar complex and its implications for percutaneous valvar replacement. (Circ Cardiovasc Intervent. 2008;1:74-81.)