Abstract： Replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root has been the standard surgical strategy for patients with aortic root aneurysm for many years. Along with the increasing knowledge about the aortic root anatomy and physiology, and complications after aortic valve replacement, the technique of valve-sparing aortic root replacement has developed greatly. We focus on the etiology and classification aortic valve insufficiency, the valve-sparing techniques and clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement in this review.
Objective To assess clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement for patients with aortic root aneurysm.?Methods?From February 2001 to September 2010， sixty patients with aortic root aneurysm underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 44 male patients and 16 female patients with an average age of 37.2±13.0 years （ranging from 9-64 years）. Fifteen patients had aortic dissection， 10 patients had ascendingaorta aneurysm， 25 patients had Marfan syndrome， and 2 patients had bicuspid aortic valve. Aortic root reconstruction was performed in 53 patients and aortic valve reimplantation was performed in 7 patients. Preoperative and postoperative heart function and degree of aortic insufficiency （AI） were compared.?Results?Valve-sparing aortic root replacement was performed in all patients. There was no in-hospital death or severe postoperative complications in this group. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 13 hours （ranging from 2 to 1 110 hours） ， while the mean intensive care unit stay was 2.7±2.5 days （ranging from 1 to 18 days） . Postoperative echocardiography showed AI degree was significantly reduced in all the patients. Only three patients had moderate to severe AI， and all the other patients had none or trivial AI. All the patients were followed up for 2-122 （61.5±35.9） months. During follow-up， 4 patients were lost， 9 patients died， and the overall survival rate was 83.9% （47/56）. Two patients underwent aortic valve replacement in the 13 th and 14 th postoperative month respectively because of severe AI. Heart function of 47 patients was significantly improved compared with their preoperative heart function. Thirty-five patients （74.4%）were in New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classⅠ， and 8 patients （17.0%） were in class II. Forty patients （85.1%）were free from moderate or severe AI.?Conclusion Valve-sparing aortic root replacement has satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with aortic root aneurysm， and valve-related complication rate is low.
Abstract:Objective To summarize the experiences in surgical treatment of ascending aortic root aneurysms. Methods One hundred and one patients （age ranging from 14 to 72 years, mean 42.7 years） with ascending aortic root aneurysms were diagnosed as having Marfan syndrome （58 cases）, annuloaortic ectasia （34 cases）, bicuspid aortic valve （5 cases）, aorto arteritis （4 cases） combined with aortic valve incompetence （96 cases） and aortic valve stenosis （4 cases） , preoperatively with type A dissection （26 cases） and acute left heart failure （5 cases）. Our operations consisted of 4 Wheat procedures, 13 Cabrol or modified Cabrol procedures, 1 David and 83 Bentall procedures. Concomitant operations included hemi-arch replacement or descending aorta intraluminal stent grafting （16 cases）, total arch replacement or descending aorta intraluminal stent grafting （4 cases）, mitral valve replacement or anuloplasty （14 cases） and coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG, 8 cases）. Results The overall mortality was 6.9%（7/101）, and decreased to 3. 6%（3/83） after the year 2000. Main postoperative complications were low cardiac output （10 cases）, respiratory insufficiency （9 cases）, and renal inadequacy （9 cases）. Follow-up was completed in 94 patients. During the period of follow-up, one patient died and 5 patients with Marfan syndrome suffered with type B dissection. Conclusion Bentall procedure is the method of choice for ascending aortic root aneurysms. Preoperative left heart function and surgical techniques give the crucial impact on the outcome of surgery.
Objective To study the mid-term and long-term postoperative results of Bentall procedure in patients with Marfan syndrome. Methods From February 2009 to July 2016, ten adolescent patients (mean age of 12.30±2.31 years ranged 9-16 years, mean height of 172.50±12.55 mm, mean weight of 48.60±17.08 kg) underwent Bentall procedure in our hospital. All these teenage patients were with Marfan syndrome, 6 boys and 4 girls. Five of them underwent mitral valve replacement procedure at the same time while 2 of them with tricuspid valvuloplasty. Results No mortality was found in hospitalization. One patient suffered respiratory failure after surgery. No renal failure, mediastinal infection or re-operation caused by bleeding were observed. All were well followed up for 62 months. One died of malignant arrhythmia, the other were in good condition with the latest interview. Conclusion Teenage patients with Marfan syndrome who underwent Bentall procedure have favorable outcomes in mid-term and long-term follow-up, they probably will not suffer anti-coagulation complications and restriction of growth.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of modified Yacoub technique with aortic annuloplasty in the patients with aortic root aneurysm and dilatation of aortic annular base.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 6 patients with aortic root aneurysm undergoing modified Yacoub technique with aortic annuloplasty from November 2017 to January 2019. There were 5 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 54.1±12.3 years. The preoperative cardiac function of 3 patients was in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classⅡand the other 3 patients were in class Ⅲ. There were two patients with bicuspid aortic valve, and no Marfan syndrome. There was aortic regurgitation in the patients measured by the echocardiogram, 1 in mild aortic regurgitation, 1 in moderate aortic regurgitation, and 4 in severe aortic regurgitation. The diameter of aortic annular base was 27.8±1.9 mm, and the largest diameter of aortic root was 49.8±3.7 mm. Six patients underwent modified Yacoub technique with aortic annuloplasty, including 5 patients who underwent aortic cusp repair at the same time.ResultsAll 6 identified patients survived. There was no severe complication (bleeding, stroke, or acute renal failure). The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 204.6±13.5 min, aortic cross-clamping time 168.0±17.1 min, mechanical ventilation time 21.3±19.5 h, ICU stay time 67.8±62.2 h. The follow-up time ranged from 4 to 18 months with an average time of 12.8±4.7 months. Patients' cardiac function improved postoperatively with four patients in NYHA classⅠand two patients with classⅡ. Two patients had no aortic valve regurgitation, four patients had mild regurgitation. Left ventricular end diastolic volume decreased significantly (118.6±20.4 mL vs. 169.1±58.4 mL, P<0.05).ConclusionThe modified Yacoub technique with aortic annuloplasty is effective and safe for the patients with aortic root aneurysm and dilatation of aortic annular base, and the early- and mid-term outcomes are satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the midterm effect of valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) on aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe aortic regurgitation (AR). MethodsThe clinical data of patients with aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe AR undergoing VSRR and surviving from the operation from October 2013 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 31 males and 9 females, with an average age of 47.1±13.4 years. There were 30 patients with true aneurysm of aortic root and 10 patients with dissecting aneurysm of aortic root. There were 3 patients with bicuspid aortic valve, and 12 patients with Marfan syndrome. The AR measured by the echocardiogram was moderate in 18 patients and severe in 22 patients. The average diameter of aortic annulus was 27.0±3.9 mm, and the mean largest diameter of aortic sinus was 52.3±6.1 mm. ResultsA total of 32 patients underwent David technique and 8 patients underwent Yacoub technique, and 10 patients underwent aortic cusp repair simultaneously. All 40 patients completed the follow-up, and the follow-up period was 12-86 (45.7±18.9) months. During the period, 1 patient died of heart failure, 2 had reoperation due to new-onset Stanford B aortic dissection, and no patients had reoperation related to aortic valve. The postoperative New York Heart Association cardiac function classification (1.6±0.5 vs. 2.8±0.8), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (52.2±7.8 mm vs. 61.4±10.6 mm) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (136.0±58.8 mL vs. 193.3±83.9 mL) of the patients were significantly improved compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). By echocardiography, 19 patients had no AR, 18 patients had mild AR, 3 patients had mild-moderate AR, and no patients had moderate or higher AR. ConclusionIn patients with aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe AR, VSRR technique avoids prosthetic valves and anticoagulation-related complications, has lower rate of AR recurrence and reoperation, and improves the quality of life in the midterm period.
Objective To evaluate the early clinical effect of reimplantation in the treatment of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with aortic root aneurysm. Methods The clinical data of 25 patients with BAV and aortic root aneurysm[mean diameter: 45-63 (52.68±5.55) mm] undergoing reimplantation in West China Hospital from November 2019 to May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 22 males and 3 females. The mean age was 15-65 (50.00±13.10) years and body surface area was 1.79±0.23 m2. ResultsThe pathological classification of BAV malformation was confirmed during the operation: Type 0 in 3 patients and Type 1 in 22 patients. There were 12 patients undergoing cusp central plication, and 2 patients were sutured with a closed fusion crest. Postoperative valve leaflet coaptation height was 0.78±0.15 cm, and effective height was 1.27±0.19 cm. In operation, maximum aortic valve flow velocity was 1.65±0.42 m/s, pressure difference was 5.46±3.05 mm Hg, and aortic valve annulus diameter was 21.32±0.95 mm. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 225.84±35.34 min, and aortic block time was 189.60±26.51 min. In-hospital time was 11.64±3.07 d, ICU stay time was 2.64±0.99 d, and mechanical ventilation time was 1.48±0.87 d. The follow-up time was 17.20±4.70 months, and no death or major complications occurred during the follow-up in all patients. The cardiac function of the patients significantly improved postoperatively (P≤0.05). Echocardiography suggested that 12 patients had no aortic regurgitation, 10 minor aortic regurgitation, 3 mild aortic regurgitation, and no patients with moderate or more severe regurgitation. The diameter of the aortic sinus, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and volume decreased during the follow-up, compared to preoperative ones (P≤0.05). The maximum flow velocity of the aortic valve was 1.54±0.36 m/s, and the pressure difference was 5.17±2.38 mm Hg during the follow-up. ConclusionReimplantation technology has a good clinical effect for highly selective BAV patients. It can effectively avoid long-term postoperative anticoagulation, but the maximum flow rate after surgery is slightly increased, which may be related to the configuration of BAV itself. While compared with valve replacement, the effect is still worthy of recognition.
ObjectiveTo summarize the surgical strategy of reoperative aortic root replacement after prior aortic valve replacement (AVR), and analyze the early and mid-term outcomes.MethodsFrom April 2013 to January 2020, 75 patients with prior AVR underwent reoperative aortic root replacement in Fuwai Hospital. There were 54 males and 21 females with a mean age of 56.4±12.7 years. An emergent operation was performed in 14 patients and an elective operation in 61 patients. The indications were aortic root aneurysm in 38 patients, aortic dissection involving aortic root in 30 patients, root false aneurysm in 2 patients, prosthesis valve endocarditis with root abscess in 2 patients, and Behçet's disease with root destruction in 3 patients. The survival and freedom from aortic events during the follow-up were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the log-rank test.ResultsThe operative procedures included prosthesis-sparing root replacement in 45 patients, Bentall procedure in 26 patients, and Cabrol procedure in 4 patients. Operative mortality was 1.3% (1/75). A composite of adverse events occurred in 5 patients, including operative death (n=1), stroke (n=1), and acute renal injury necessitating hemodialysis (n=3). The follow-up was available for all 74 survivors, with the mean follow-up time of 0.5-92.0 (30.3±25.0) months. Four late deaths occurred during the follow-up. The survival rate at 1 year, 3 years and 6 years was 97.2%, 91.4% and 84.4%, respectively. Aortic events developed in 2 patients. The rate of freedom from aortic events at 1 year, 3 years, and 6 years was 98.7%, 95.0% and 87.7%, respectively. There was no difference in rate of survival or freedom from aortic events between the elective patients and the emergent patients.ConclusionReoperative aortic root replacement after prior AVR can be performed to treat the root pathologies after AVR, with acceptable early and mid-term outcomes.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of Remodeling+Ring (modified Yacoub) for patients with aortic root aneurysm. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent modified Yacoub surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsFour male patients were enrolled, with an average age of 47.3±10.3 years and body surface area of 1.9±0.2 m2. One patient had a complication of bicuspid aortic valve. Aortic valve regurgitation was mild in three patients and moderate in one patient. Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function was gradeⅠin one patient and gradeⅡin three patients, and the body surface area was 1.9±0.2 m2. The maximum diameter of the aortic sinus was 59.3±8.1 mm. All four patients recovered and were discharged without a second thoracotomy. No postoperative complications such as brain injury, infection, respiratory failure or renal insufficiency occurred. During the follow-up of 17.0±13.1 months, two patients showed no regurgitation of the aortic valve, two patients exhibited mild regurgitation. Three patients had a heart function of gradeⅠ and one patient of gradeⅡ. ConclusionModified Yacoub technique is safe and effective for patients with aortic root aneurysm.