Long-term outcomes after aortic root repair using selective sinus replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to evaluate long-term results after anatomic restoration of the aortic root. METHODS: During an 18-year period, a total of 669 patients underwent valve-sparing root repair (aneurysm 554, dissection 115) using selective sinus replacement. None/trivial, mild, moderate, and severe (grades 3+ and 4+) insufficiency were present in 57, 146, 204, and 262 patients, respectively. RESULTS: The anatomic repair was adjusted to the existing aortic annulus diameter, which was 27.0 ± 3.0 mm on average. Replacement of 1, 2, or 3 sinuses of Valsalva was performed in 209, 234, and 226 patients, respectively. Altogether, 454 additional procedures on the cusps were performed, mostly as cusp patch plasty with pericardium (210). Thirty-day mortality was 0.6%. The mean follow-up duration was 7.1 ± 4.1 years (range, 0.01-19.1 years). The estimated freedom from relevant aortic insufficiency grade 3+ or greater (15 events) was 98% ± 1%, 97% ± 1%, and 94% ± 3% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. On echocardiogram, no patient revealed a considerable change of the form or size of the repaired root, which was confirmed radiologically in 160 patients who received computed tomography angiography for any reason. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified cusp prolapse/pseudo-prolapse as the only independent risk factor for the development of recurrent insufficiency grade 2+ or greater (41 occurrences), with a hazard ratio of 3.258 (95% confidence interval, 1.658-6.403; P = .001). An association between aortic annulus size and functional results could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-tailored root repair using isolated sinus replacement offers excellent functional long-term results regardless of underlying root pathology or annulus size. Aortic cusp pathology was decisive for long-term valve function.

Patient-tailored aortic root repair in adult marfanoid patients: Surgical considerations and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the operative and functional results after individual, patient-tailored aortic root repair in marfanoid patients. METHODS: Among 518 patients who underwent operation between 2002 and January 2016, using patient-tailored aortic root repair with isolated sinus replacement, 42 patients fulfilled the original Ghent criteria. None/trivial, mild, moderate, and severe insufficiency grades were present in 5, 16, 10, and 11 patients, respectively. RESULTS: The repair was adjusted to the existing aortic annulus diameter. Replacement of 1, 2, or 3 sinuses of Valsalva was performed in 1, 14, and 27 patients, respectively. Concomitant cusp repair was performed in 17 patients (40.5%), and 10 patients (23.8%) underwent arch repair (total in 3). All patients survived surgery, and the follow-up (mean, 6.1 ± 3.1; range, 0.8-14.2 years) was 100% complete. No patient had a change in the form or size of the aortic neo-root, especially the size of aortic annulus and sinotubular junction during the follow-up time. No and trivial/mild insufficiency were present in 22 and 18 patients, respectively, and 2 patients with recurrent aortic insufficiency caused by cusp pathology underwent aortic valve replacement 43 and 66 months after the primary surgery, respectively. Thus, the estimated survival free from aortic valve/root reoperation for any reason at 5 and 8 years was 96.8% ± 3.2% and 91.4% ± 6.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-tailored root repair using isolated sinus replacement is an effective and durable method of valve-sparing repair in select marfanoid patients with a satisfactory quality of aortic cusps, which seems to be decisive for long-term valve function.