Figure 2.

Borderline conditions. Intraoperative photographs from a patient with dilated ascending aorta (left: 50 mm at the midascending tract bulging toward the right and anteriorly, 35 mm at the sinotubular junction, 38 mm at sinuses, and normal distal ascending and arch diameters) and BAV (right: fusion of the right and left coronary leaflets, partial fibrous noncalcific raphe, a nearly 180° position of the commissures, no stenosis, and trivial regurgitation at echocardiography). According to published series, different investigators would treat this unique condition by a variety of techniques, including simple ascending replacement, ascending reduction aortoplasty, ascending and root replacement with valve sparing, Wheat operation, Bentall operation, and so forth.⁷