Question:

What is a porcelain aorta and how is it treated with aortic valve stenosis?

Submitted by Teresa from Rocklin, California on 08/13/2014

Answer:
by Denton A. Cooley, MD

A porcelain aorta is a heavily calcified ascending thoracic aorta which may obviate usual aortic valve replacement through that approach. There are several alternative procedures which an experienced cardiovascular surgeon may select.