Does aortic valve repair in valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction compromise the longevity of the procedure?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The effect of performing aortic valve repair in combination with valve-sparing operation on the length of time for which patients are free from reoperation is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if the performance of aortic valve repair during valve-sparing operation modified the freedom from reoperation time.METHODS:From January 2003 to July 2014, 78 patients with a mean age of 49±15 years underwent valve-sparing operation. Sixty-eight percent of these patients were male. Twenty-two (28%) aortic valve repair procedures were performed in this patient population. In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 77.3% of patients had moderate/severe aortic insufficiency, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 58.6% of patients had moderate/severe aortic insufficiency (ns = not significant). Additionally, 13.6% of patients in the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group had functional class III/IV, while 14.2% of patients in the valve-sparing operation group had functional class III/IV (ns).RESULTS:The in-hospital and late mortality rates, for the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation and valve-sparing operation groups were similar, as they were 4.5% and 3.6%; and 0% and 1.8%, respectively. In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 0% of patients presented moderate/severe aortic insufficiency during late follow-up, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 14.2% of patients presented with moderate/severe aortic insufficiency during this period (ns). In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 5.3% of patients presented with functional class III/IV, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 4.2% of patients presented with functional class III/IV (ns). In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 0% of patients required reoperation, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 3.6% of patients required reoperation over a mean follow-up period of 1621±1156 days (75 patients).CONCLUSION:Valve-sparing operation is a safe and long-lasting procedure and performance of aortic valve repair when necessary does not increase risk of reoperation on the aortic valve.

Brazilian Single-Center Experience with Aortic Root Replacement in 448 Patients: What is the Best Technique?

“…David et al [ 9 ] published a study of 151 patients who underwent valve-sparing ARR in patients with aneurysms of the aortic root and reported 99.1% aortic valve reoperation-free survival when the reimplantation technique was used and 83% late survival for patients with root aneurysms at eight years of follow-up. Dias et al [ 10 ] presented the results of 78 patients who underwent valve-sparing ARR during a follow-up period of 1621±1156 days. When comparing patients who underwent aortic valve repair with those who did not undergo this procedure, they observed that aortic valve repair did not increase the risk of reoperation of the valve and was a very safe and long-lasting approach.…”