Valve-sparing aortic root repair without down-sizing of the annulus.

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted to evaluate the intermediate results after patient-tailored aortic root repair with replacement of isolated sinuses adjusted to the existing aortic annulus diameter rather than annulus downsizing.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2009, 236 patients with aortic root disease underwent patient-tailored restoration of the aortic root according to its anatomopathologic condition with repair of 1, 2, or all 3 sinuses in 73, 94, and 69 patients, respectively. Concomitant cusp repair was performed in 106 patients. Insufficiency grades of 0/1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+ were presented in 59, 74, 74, and 29 patients, respectively. All data were collected prospectively and intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Valve repair was successful in all but 6 patients. At the most recent clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of the remaining patients, which averaged 43 ± 24 months (range, 0.3-115 months), 216 patients showed no or slight aortic regurgitation (grade 0/1+) and 10 patients showed grade 2+. Another 4 patients had grade 3+ regurgitation and underwent aortic valve replacement. The actuarial freedom from aortic regurgitation grade 3+ or more at 8 years was 95.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified cusp repair as the independent risk factor for an aortic regurgitation grade of 2+ or more with an odds ratio of 10.9 (95% confidence interval, 2.5-47.7; P = .002). The association between aortic annulus size and functional results after repair could not be demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic root repair with replacement of isolated sinuses adjusted to the existing aortic annulus leads to excellent, durable results and can be recommended. Cusp disease is a leading aspect affecting functional results of repair. Therefore, establishment of reproducible cusp repair techniques is of utmost importance for further development of reconstructive aortic valve surgery.