Surgery of the aortic root: Should we go for the valve-sparing root reconstruction or the composite graft-valve replacement is still the first choice of treatment for these patients?

• Published in: Revista brasileira de cirurgia cardiovascular 2015-07, Vol.30 (3), p.343-352
• Main Authors: LAMANA, FERNANDO DE AZEVEDO, DIAS, RICARDO RIBEIRO, DUNCAN, JOSE AUGUSTO, FARIA, LEANDRO BATISTI DE, MALBOUISSON, LUIZ MARCELO SA, BORGES, LUCIANO DE FIGUEIREDO, MADY, CHARLES, JATENE, FABIO BISCEGLI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneurisma Aórtico; Aneurisma da Aorta Torácica; Aorta Torácica; CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS; Cardiology; Coronary vessels; Doenças da Aorta; Heart surgery; Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Cardiovasculares; SURGERY; Surgical outcomes
• ISSN: 0102-7638; 1678-9741; 1678-9741
• DOI: 10.5935/1678-9741.20150028

Objective: To compare the results of the root reconstruction with the aortic valve-sparing operation versus composite graftvalve replacement. Methods: From January 2002 to October 2013, 324 patients underwent aortic root reconstruction. They were 263 composite graft-valve replacement and 61 aortic valve-sparing operation (43 reimplantation and 18 remodeling). Twenty-six percent of the patients were NYHA functional class III and IV; 9.6% had Marfan syndrome, and 12% had bicuspid aortic valve. There was a predominance of aneurysms over dissections (81% vs. 19%), with 7% being acute dissections. The complete follow-up of 100% of the patients was performed with median follow-up time of 902 days for patients undergoing composite graft-valve replacement and 1492 for those undergoing aortic valve-sparing operation. Results: In-hospital mortality was 6.7% and 4.9%, respectively for composite graft-valve replacement and aortic valve-sparing operation (ns). During the late follow-up period, there was 0% moderate and 15.4% severe aortic regurgitation, and NYHA functional class I and II were 89.4% and 94%, respectively for composite graft-valve replacement and aortic valve-sparing operation (ns). Root reconstruction with aortic valve-sparing operation showed lower late mortality (P=0.001) and lower bleeding complications (P=0.006). There was no difference for thromboembolism, endocarditis, and need of reoperation. Conclusion: The aortic root reconstruction with preservation of the valve should be the operation being performed for presenting lower late mortality and survival free of bleeding events.