Long-term follow-up of passive containment surgery in patients with aortic regurgitation.

The goal of this case-control study was to evaluate the long-term effects on cardiac dimensions, cardiac function and coronary circulation in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular dilatation undergoing aortic valve replacement and application of the Acorn CorCap cardiac support device Of 10 patients with AR and ventricular dilatation who had a mechanical aortic valve implanted, 5 in addition received the cardiac support device. Cardiac dimensions and cardiac function were measured by echocardiography preoperatively and 1, 5 and 10 years postoperatively. The coronary circulation was assessed by computed tomography angiography. After aortic valve replacement, there was a rapid and sustained decrease in cardiac dimensions. This result did not differ after application of the cardiac support device. Improvement in cardiac function remained unchanged in both groups at the 10-year follow-up. None of the patients had developed any signs of coronary artery disease. Application of the Acorn CorCap cardiac support device in patients with AR and left ventricular dilatation did not add to the reversed remodelling or cardiac function at the long-term follow-up compared to aortic valve replacement alone.