Acute type A aortic dissection is a lethal disease that requires immediate surgical intervention and lifesaving measures. The treatment of this condition primarily involves addressing the complex structure and vital role of the aortic root. Since 1968, surgical techniques for aortic dissection type A have rapidly advanced, significantly improving patients' outcomes. In recent years, various approaches to aortic root management have emerged. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these approaches.
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.
This study aims to explore the effect of aortic sinus diameter on aortic valve opening and closing performance in the case of no obvious disease of aortic valve and annulus and continuous dilation of aortic root. A total of 25 three-dimensional aortic root models with different aortic sinus and root diameters were constructed according to the size of clinical surgical guidance. The valve sinus diameter DS is set to 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48 mm, respectively, and the aortic root diameter DA is set to 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 mm, respectively. Through the structural mechanics calculation with the finite element software, the maximum stress, valve orifice area, contact force and other parameters of the model are analyzed to evaluate the valve opening and closing performance under the dilated state. The study found that aortic valve stenosis occurs when the DS = 32 mm, DA = 26, 27 mm and DS = 36 mm, DA = 26 mm. Aortic regurgitation occurs when the DS = 32, 36 and 40 mm, DA = 30 mm and DS = 44, 48 mm, DA = 29, 30 mm. The other 15 models had normal valve movement. The results showed that the size of the aortic sinus affected the opening and closing performance of the aortic valve. The smaller sinus diameter adapted with the larger root diameter and the larger sinus diameter adapted with the smaller root diameter. When the sinus diameter is 40 mm, the mechanical performance of the valve are good and it can well adapt with the relatively large range of aortic root dilation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the short-term therapeutic effect of extended adventitial inversion with graft eversion anastomosis technique in the root treatment of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).MethodsFrom November 2019 to July 2020, 28 patients with ATAAD were treated by extended adventitial inversion with graft eversion anastomosis technique in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, including 19 males and 9 females, aged 60.11±11.11 years. The intima of the ascending aorta was trimed to 5 mm above the sinotubular junction. The adventitia of the ascending aorta was longitudinally cut to the reserved intima margin along the junction of the three aortic valves. The extended adventitial inversion was sutured continuously, no coronary sinus was sutured over the aortic annulus, and the left and right coronary sinus was sutured above the coronary ostium. The anastomotic graft was everted and inserted into the aortic lumen, and the everted graft was continuously sutured at the level of sinotubular junction which was 5 mm away from the edge of graft.ResultsThere was no intraoperative death, intractable root hemorrhage, residual root false lumen, root dilatation, anastomotic hematoma or other complications. There was no recurrence of the pain in the back of all patients, and the results of the CT angiography were not significantly changed. In 22 patients with no regurgitation, only 1 (4.55%) patient had a mild regurgitation. In 6 patients with mild aortic regurgitation, the disappearance rate of regurgitation was 50.0% (3/6).ConclusionThe treatment of extended adventitial inversion with graft eversion anastomosis technique in the root treatment of aortic dissection eliminates the residual dissection at the root. The anastomotic hemorrhage is prevented, the root structure of aortic dissection is reconstructed and strengthened, the root function is restored, and the possible expansion of the root is prevented. The short-term results are satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and durability of aortic sinoplasty in repairing aortic roots of patients with acute type A aortic dissection.MethodsFrom January 2014 to July 2017, 43 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent aortic sinoplasty to repair aortic root in our institution, including 34 males and 9 females, aged 32-65 (50.1±8.1) years. The perioperative and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed, and statistical analysis on the preoperative, postoperative and follow-up ultrasound indicators was performed.ResultsThirty-day mortality was 4.7%. Preoperative aortic regurgitation was corrected and false lumen was eliminated immediately after operation in all patients. There was no late death, or aortic root or valve re-intervention and two patients were lost during a follow-up of 18-45 (27.9±6.7) months. There was no residual dissection found. No patients had significant dilation of aortic root. No statistically significant difference was found when comparing the maximum of root diameter and aortic regurgitation grade between at discharge and follow-up.ConclusionAortic sinoplasty for aortic root repair in acute type A aortic dissection is a simple and reliable technique and demonstrates excellent early outcomes.
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.
Objective To analyze the clinical effect of partial aortic root remodeling for root reconstruction on Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods From January 2010 to December 2015, 30 patients (25 males, 5 females) underwent partial aortic root remodeling for root reconstruction on Stanford type A aortic dissection with involvement of aortic root. The range of age was from 27 to 72 years, and the mean age was 51.2±8.0 years. The proximal aortic dissection received partial aortic root remodeling, and the operation procedures included partial aortic root remodeling+ascending aortic replacement in 9 patients, partial aortic root remodeling+ascending aortic replacement+hemi-arch replacement in 6 patients, partial aortic root remodeling+ascending aortic replacement+Sun's procedure in 15 patients. The patients were followed up for 10 to 60 months with a mean of 37.9±3.2 months. Preoperative and postoperative degrees of aortic regurgitation were compared. Results All patients survived from the operation, and one patient died from severe pulmonary infection 15 days after operation. The overall survival rate was 96.7% (29/30). One patient died during the follow-up. Two patients underwent aortic valve replacement in the 12th and 15th postoperative month respectively because of severe aortic regurgitation (AI). Up to the last follow-up, trivial or no aortic regurgitation was demonstrated in 24 patients, but mild aortic regurgitation occurred in 2 patients. Conclusion The surgical treatment for aortic root pathology due to Stanford type A aortic dissection is challenging, and partial aortic root remodeling operations could restore valve durability and function, and obtains the early- and mid-term results.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the data of preoperative aortic root CT angiography (CTA), compare it with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and investigate the correlation of the two measurements with the actual intraoperative measurement data.MethodsClinical data of 53 patients with aortic valve diseases who underwent aortic valve repair in our hospital from January 2018 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 38 males and 15 females with an average age of 42.9±18.3 years ranging from 10 to 77 years. Preoperative two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and aortic root CTA measurements were collected, including aortic valve annulus (AVA), aortic sinus (Sinus) and sino-tubular junction (STJ). In comparison with the intraoperative measurements during the aortic valve repair surgery, the consistency analysis was performed.ResultsBoth the preoperative echocardiography AVA measurements and the CT AVA measurements were positively correlated with the intraoperative AVA measurements (P<0.001). Compared with the echocardiography AVA data [correlation coefficient (ρ)=0.74, mean squarederror (MSE)=12.78], the CT AVA data were more accurate and consistent with the intraoperative AVA measurements (ρ=0.95, MSE=2.72). CT AVA data had a higher correlation coefficient with the intraoperative measurements, compared to that of the echocardiography AVA data (P<0.001).ConclusionIn comparison with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, preoperative morphological evaluation of aortic root CTA is more consistent with the actual intraoperative measurements during aortic valve repair surgery.
Objective To investigate and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the aortic-mitral annular enlargement technique (double annular enlargement) in patients with small-size valve prostheses after prior valve surgery. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent double valve annular enlargement in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from April 2020 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 30 patients were collected, including 2 males and 28 females aged 9-78 (52.71±3.53) years. All patients had previous heart valve surgery, including 1 patient receiving the third heart surgery. All patients were operated on successfully and there were no postoperative in-hospital deaths. There was no postoperative bleeding which needed a secondary open-chest hemostasis, and one patient underwent permanent pacemaker implantation due to postoperative sick sinus syndrome. The mean diameter of the implanted prosthetic aortic valve was 24.23±1.60 mm, which was significantly larger than that of the preoperative aortic valve (21.03±1.90 mm, P＜0.001). The mean diameter of the implanted prosthetic mitral valve was 28.33±1.21 mm, which was significantly larger than that of the preoperative mitral valve (25.43±0.84 mm, P＜0.001). The mean peak gradient difference across the prosthetic aortic valve on postoperative echocardiography was 18.17±6.44 mm Hg, which was significantly lower than that of the preoperative aortic valve (82.57±24.48 mm Hg, P＜0.001). The mean peak gradient difference of the postoperative prosthetic mitral valve was 12.73±5.45 mm Hg, which was significantly lower than that of the preoperative mitral valve (19.43±8.97 mm Hg, P=0.003). Conclusion The double annular enlargement technique is safe and effective for reoperation in patients with a history of valve surgery with a small aortic root to obtain both a larger size prosthetic valve for a larger orifice area and stability of the mitral-aortic valve union, resulting in good postoperative hemodynamic characteristics and clinical outcomes.