A universally applicable continuous suture technique for insertion of aortic valve prostheses.

In a series of 55 consecutive patients with both single- and multiple-valve disease and aortic aneurysm, the aortic valve was replaced using a continuous suture technique. The technique is applicable for both ball- and disc-valve prostheses. This method resulted in a marked reduction in cardiopulmonary bypass time with a very low incidence of perivalvular leak. It has major advantages over other continuous and interrupted suture techniques.