What is the Ozaki procedure?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: June 4, 2025 • View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

From the Research

The Ozaki procedure is a surgical technique that replaces diseased aortic valve leaflets with custom-made leaflets created from the patient's own pericardium, offering advantages over traditional valve replacement, including avoiding lifelong anticoagulation therapy and reducing rejection risk. This approach is particularly valuable for patients who cannot take blood thinners or those with small aortic roots where a standard prosthetic valve might not fit properly. The procedure involves harvesting a portion of pericardium, treating it with glutaraldehyde solution to strengthen it, and carefully crafting three new leaflets sized precisely to the patient's anatomy, which are then sutured into place to create a new, functioning aortic valve 1.

Key Points

  • The Ozaki procedure is a patient-specific approach, using the patient's own pericardium to create new valve leaflets, which can provide better durability than bioprosthetic valves, especially in younger patients.
  • The procedure has been shown to have excellent midterm outcomes in terms of hemodynamics, survival, and freedom from reoperation, with a low risk of endocarditis and reoperation rates of 98.0%, 97.0%, and 96.5% at 1,3, and 5 years, respectively 1.
  • Recovery typically requires 5-7 days in hospital followed by several weeks of gradually increasing activity, with most patients achieving full recovery within 2-3 months.
  • The Ozaki procedure is gaining popularity due to its promising long-term outcomes and patient-specific approach, although it is still less common than traditional valve replacements.

Indications and Considerations

  • The Ozaki procedure is particularly suitable for patients with aortic valve disease who are at high risk for traditional valve replacement or have contraindications to anticoagulation therapy.
  • Patients with small aortic roots or those who require aortic root replacement may also benefit from this approach.
  • The procedure can be performed using a minimally invasive approach, which may reduce morbidity and recovery time 2.

Outcomes and Evidence

  • Studies have shown that the Ozaki procedure has excellent midterm outcomes, with low mortality and morbidity rates, and a low risk of reoperation and endocarditis 3, 4, 1.
  • A meta-analysis of reconstructed patient-level data found that the Ozaki procedure had excellent hemodynamics, survival, and freedom from reoperation rates, with a low risk of endocarditis 1.

References

Related Questions

What is a valvuloplasty balloon to the mitral valve?
What are the risks of Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy with calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine (Cyclosporin) and tacrolimus (FK506)?
What is the recurrence rate after Desarda (inguinal hernia repair) technique?
How does Vedolizumab (Vedolizumab) affect C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease?

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.

Ask Question