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.
Abstract: Objective To compare the change of left heart funct ion in pat ients w ith bio logical valves replacement of small ao rt ic roo t w ith mechanical valve rep lacement, and to find w hether there is p ro sthesis-patient mismatch (PPM ) or not after operation. Methods Left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF ) , left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) , left vent ricular mass index, the indexed effective orifice area (EOA I) , and peak pressure gradients across aortic valve in 20 patients with small aortic root (≤21mm in diameter) receiving biological valves rep lacement (biological valves group ) were studied by Doppler echocardiography before the operation and 6 months to 1 year after operation. The results were compared with those of 20 patients who received mechanical valves replacement (mechanical valves group ). Results Comparing with those before operation, there was a significant increase in LVEF, LV FS, EOAI of all patients 6 months to 1 year after operation . There was a significant reduction in the left ventricular mass index, peak pressure gradients across aortic valve in all patients. EOAI of all patients were between 0.88 cm2/m2 and 1. 32 cm 2/m 2. LVEF, LVFS, EOAI, left ventricular mass index, and peak pressure gradients across aortic valve between biological valves group and mechanical valves group (79% ±8% vs. 81%±10%; 43%±9% vs. 37%±8%; 1. 11±0. 14 vs. 0. 92±0. 11; 89. 10±16. 70g/m 2 vs. 95. 30±15.10 g/m 2; 18. 80±12. 60 mmHg vs. 22. 30±12. 00 mmHg) showed no significant difference 6 months to 1 year after operation (P gt;0.05). Conclus ion Patients with small aortic root receiving biological valves have a significant increase in the left heart function, and have no PPM.
Objective To observe the intermediate-term outcome and heart function in patients with small aortic root，and to investigate the feasi bility of small size prosthesis. Methods From July 1990 to Jun e 2003, 62 patients underwent 19mm aortic valve prosthesis(19mm group). The resu lts were compaired with other 62 patients receiving larger prosthesis(≥21 mm,21 mm group). Clinical symptoms, signs, electrocardiogram(ECG) and echocardiogr a phy (UCG) were followedup, KaplanMeier survival curve was used for analysis. Results In 19mm group, there were 38 patients with ≥Ⅱ/Ⅵ grade systolic murmur in aortic valve area,18 patients with ECG ST segm ent change and 11 patients with chest pain and/or chest distress. Postoperative cardiac function showed that 33 patients with heart function New York Heart Ass ociation(NYHA) class Ⅱ and 29 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ. Postoperative ECG sh owed in 21mm group,6 patients with ECG ST segment change,3 patients with chest distress and 6 patients with occasional chest pain and there were 48 patients with NYHA class Ⅱ and 14 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ,there was statis tically difference in heart function between two groups（P＝0.020). Th ere was a significant regression of left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular wall thickness, mass index,and pressure gradients in both groups（P＜0.05）, and left ventricular ejection f raction (LVEF)had a significant increase in patients 5 years after operation tha n that before operation（P＜0.05）, and there was no statistically differenc e in both groups（P＞0.05）. Actual survival at 1,5 years were 93.5%,74 .2% in 19mm group compared with 95.2%,790% in the 21mm valve group, there were no statistically difference in both groups （P=0.231,0.110）. Conc lus ion Patients with 19mm prosthetic aortic valves can experience a satisf actory improvement and get excellent intermediate-term survival.
ObjectiveTo evaluate early and midterm outcomes of aortic root enlargement (ARE) combined with supra-annular valve implantation for adult patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and small aortic roots (SARs). MethodsFrom January 2007 to July 2011, ARE combined with supra-annular valve implantation was performed for 38 adult patients with AS and SARs in Department of Cardiac Surgery of Beijing Anzhen Hospital. There were 12 males and 26 females with their age of 16-58 (38.6±21.0) years, body weight of 48-78 (58.5±12.0) kg, body height of 153-176 (162.8±12.0) cm and a mean body surface area (BSA) of 1.67±0.32 m2. There were 19 patients with rheumatic AS, 11 patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valve and AS, 5 patients with degenerative AS and 3 patients with AS and infective endocarditis. Preopera-tively, 8 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ, 29 patients were in NYHA class Ⅲ, and 1 patient was in NYHA class Ⅳ. Aortic annular diameter (AAD) was 15-20 (17.6±2.8) mm and trans-aortic pressure gradient was 53-75 (62.8±10.5) mm Hg. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 83-145 (112±29) minutes, and aortic cross-clamping time was 58-116 (87±28) minutes. Intraoperative measurement of AAD was 15-20 (17.3±2.6) mm, AAD after ARE was 20-25 (22.6±2.3) mm. AAD after ARE was 12-17 (14.0±2.6) mm larger than AAD before ARE. Actual size of prosthetic valves was 2-3 sizes larger than predicted size without ARE in all the patients. There was no perioperative death or severe complication including bleeding. Length of ICU stay was 12-41 (26±14) hours, and length of hospital stay was 9-15 (12.5±3.2) days. A total of 37 patients (97.4%) were followed up for over 2 years after discharge. All the patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ. Grade 2/6 systolic murmur was heard in 3 patients. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed significant improvement or complete disappearance of left ventricular hypertrophy in 35 patients, and mild left ventricular hypertrophy in 2 patients. ECG during follow-up didn't show any sign of myocardial ischemia, ventricular arrhythmia or severe atrioventricular block in any patient. ConclusionEarly and midterm outcomes of ARE combined with supra-annular valve implantation for adult patients with AS and SARs are satisfactory, but long-term outcomes of this procedure need further follow-up.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the reimplantation procedure with the De Paulis Valsalva graft in patients with aneurysms. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 38 patients underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement using De Paulis graft in our hospital between September 2005 and July 2013.There were 32 male and 6 female patients at age of 45.5±12.4 years. We compared the parameters of pre-operation and post-operation and followed up the patients for 5 years. ResultsThere were 2(5.3%) deaths in hospital. The follow-up time was 2-95 months with following-up rate of 92.1%(35/38). A total of 2 patients(5.3%) had grade 3 to grade 4 aortic insufficiency. And one of these patients received aortic valve replacement after 1 year. At 5 years of following-up, one patient died of septic shock due to pacemaker infection. One patient died of kidney failure due to renal artery dissection aneurysm affected with impaired renal function and long-term hemodialysis. ConclusionThe reimplantation type of valve-sparing procedure can be facilitated by the use of the De Paulis valsalva graft and can be performed with satisfactory perioperative and mid-term results.
Objective To analyze clinical outcome of the technique of comprehensive aortic root and valve reconstruction (CARVAR) applying in aortic valve and root disease. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 106 patients with aortic valve and root disease underwent CARVAR technique in our hospital from July 2012 to July 2015. There were 72 males and 34 females at the average age of 57.3 (11-67) years. We operated the CARVAR technique and analyzed the early and midterm clinical outcomes. Results There was no mortality and low cardiac output syndrome postoperatively. But there were 2 cases of renal insufficiency or failure and 1 case of infective endocarditis. The average ejection fraction was 54%. The mean area of aortic valve orifice was 2.2±0.8 cm2. The aortic valve pressure gradient was 11.2±2.3 mm Hg. There were 2 cases of mild aortic valve regurgitation. The result of operation was satisfying with a stable hemodynamics and few complications. The follow-up after surgery showed that there was no obvious abnormity in aortic valve and root. Conclusion Using CARVAR technique to cure aortic valve and root disease is an effective treatment and it can achieve satisfactory early and midterm clinical 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.
Objective To compare the early and late outcomes of different techniques of proximal root reconstruction during the repair of acute type A aortic dissection, including aortic valve (AV) resuspension, isolated supracoronary ascending aorta replacement, and aortic root replacement procedure (Bentall). Methods All patients who underwent acute Type A aortic dissection repair between January 2010 and December 2015 in Fuwai Hospital were retrospectively analyzed in our study. There were 673 patients with 512 males and 161 females at mean age of 48.80±11.22 years. There were 403 patients as an AV resuspension group (287 males and 116 females at average age of 50.61±9.95 years), 95 patients as an isolated supracoronary ascending aorta replacement group (76 males and 19 females at average of 49.83±12.21 years), and 175 patients as an AV resuspension group (149 males and 26 females at average of 44.07±11.99 years). The differences of preoperative aortic insufficiency, intraoperative variables and postoperative aortic insufficiency were compared in the three groups. Results Five hundred ninety-one patients (87.8%) had aortic valve commissure involved. The proportion of mild degree, moderate degree, and severe degree among the three groups were statistically significant (31.7%, 52.4%, 15.9%; 87.4%, 12.6%, 0.0%; 23.4%, 56.0%, 20.6%; P < 0.01). The diameter of aortic sinus in the three groups was 39.06±5.11 mm, 38.27±4.41 mm, 50.39±6.22 mm, respectively, with a statistical difference ( P< 0.01). The duration of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aorta cross-clamp time were also statistically significant (P < 0.01). The in-hospital mortality was 11.73% in the whole group. There was no difference among the three groups (12.2% vs. 13.7% vs. 9.7%, P=0.58). Five-year survival rate was similar (83.06% vs. 81.27% vs. 83.05%, P=0.85). The 5-year free from over moderate aortic insufficiency rate were 95.2%, 98.6% and 100% respectively, with no statistical difference (P=0.07). There was no re-do operation for aortic root diseases in the whole group. Conclusion According to aortic root processing strategy in our center, AV resuspension, isolated supracoronary ascending aorta replacement, and aortic root replacement can achieve satisfactory results. However, there is higher incidence of aortic insufficiency through AV resuspension. Further study is needed to evaluate its efficacy.
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.
Total root replacement (TRR) with a valved conduit has long been the treatment standard for most aortic root diseases. However, with advances in technology and a deeper understanding of aortic root anatomy and hemodynamics, valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) and personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) have emerged. It is especially important to choose the appropriate procedure for different aortic root diseases. When evaluating these three surgical procedures, it is necessary to focus on the treatment and prevention of the dissection and balance the short-term and long-term risks of the patients. This article outlines aortic-related diseases and the selection of surgery.