Severe, transient aortic insufficiency after bovine pericardial aortic valve replacement: a cautionary note.

Three patients demonstrated severe, central aortic insufficiency noted immediately upon removal of the aortic cross clamp after aortic valve replacement with a bovine pericardial Edwards Magna valve. After maintaining left ventricular decompression, the aortic insufficiency resolved in less than 1 hour. Knowledge of this phenomenon will prevent unnecessary prosthetic valve explantation and re-replacement.