Bicuspid Aortopathy and Aortic Flow

Summary

Bicuspid aortic valve disease is a common congenital heart defect that can cause the aorta to enlarge and weaken ( aneurysms), leading to possible rupture. The mechanisms that underlie this weakening process are poorly understood. Evidence suggest that blood flow in the aorta may play a role. The purpose of this study is to better understand how blood flow influences aortic aneurysms. Patients who are going for surgery to have their aorta resected would have an MRI ( with special images) prior to surgery and tissue samples would be taken from the resected aorta during surgery.
It is the hope of this study to advance the knowledge of the role of blood flow on aortic tissue function in both bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves with enlarged aortas; providing new tools to determine best treatment strategies.