The combination of Florida sleeve and Ozaki procedures for aortic root repair

It is generally accepted that the definitive treatment for irreparable aortic root disease is aortic root replacement with a valved conduit – the Bentall procedure. However, we try to follow a reparative strategy for all aortic root pathology whenever possible. Our “root-sparing” philosophy is achieved by restoration of physiological aortic root dimensions by the Florida sleeve technique and aortic cusp substitution by neocuspidization. The combination of both strategies allows for full reconstruction of the root, instead of its replacement. Our modification is called FLOZ, from “FLorida + OZaki”.