Intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic studies in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with the Hall-Kaster cardiac disc valve prosthesis.

Intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic measurements in the first patients to receive the Hall-Kaster cardiac disc valve prosthesis in the aortic position demonstrated the principal hemodynamic pattern of this new mechanical valve. These hemodynamic studies demonstrated favourable transvalvular gradient values and a degree of flow area utilization of the valve orifice which was close to its theoretical maximum. The Hall-Kaster prosthesis thus presented improved flow characteristics in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, which is considered of particular importance to the patients with a narrow aortic root.