Skip to main content

A Bentall procedure would happen during aortic surgery. It would replace faulty parts of the aorta, such as the valve or the ascending aorta, with a graft.

Who would have it?

Patients with Marfan syndrome are likely to have a Bentall procedure. This is because the condition can cause either a leaky heart valve or a bicuspid aortic valve, where the valve has fused. 

Patients who have had an aneurysm (where the ascending aorta balloons out) may also need to have the procedure. This is to stop the aorta rupturing and causing a fatal haemorrhage.

What happens during the procedure?

“Button” is the most common type of Bentall procedure. After an incision is made in the chest, the heart is temporarily stopped so that there is no bleeding. This allows surgeons to perform the operation properly. 

The part of the aorta that needs replacing is removed and two coronary 'buttons' opposite each other are separated from the aortic wall. A valve replacement tube is then fitted and connected to the aorta using surgical needles and threads called sutures. 

As the procedure is carried out, the surgeon will regularly test the valve to check it is properly secured and blood isn’t leaking out. If it is all fine the surgeon will complete the operation.

Aortopathy simply means any disease of the aorta, which is the main artery of the body.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue in the body due to abnormalities in growth proteins.

Our team of surgeons, physicians and specialist radiologists work together to diagnose, screen and treat patients from childhood to extreme old age, who have an aortopathy (any disease of the aorta).

Some of these aortic diseases are directly related to abnormalities of the aortic valve. 

The Trust’s team includes: 

Cardiac surgery

Professor John Pepper, consultant cardiac surgeon and academic lead 
Mr Ulrich Rosendahl, consultant cardiac surgeon and clinical lead for the aortic service 
Mr Darryl Shore, consultant cardiac surgeon (ACHD)
Mr George Asimakopoulos, consultant cardiac surgeon 
Mr Julian Gaer, consultant cardiac surgeon 
Mr Toufan Bahrami, consultant cardiac surgeon
Mr Sunil K. Bhudia, consultant cardiac surgeon
Mr Cesare Quarto, consultant cardiac surgeon

Vascular surgery

Professor Nick Cheshire
Mr Maziar Mireskandari

Cardiology

Professor Christoph Nienaber, cardiologist and interventional cardiovascular physician 
Dr Lorna Swan, consultant cardiologist
Dr Ali Vazir, consultant cardiologist

Imaging and radiology

Dr Michael Rubens, consultant radiologist (CT)
Dr Saeed Mirsadraee, consultant radiologist (CT)
Dr Simon Padley, consultant radiologist (CT)
Professor Raad Mohiaddin, consultant radiologist (CT)

Genetics

Dr Anand Saggar, clinical geneticist


Share