Initial results of aortic valve reconstruction using autologous pericardium (Ozaki's procedure)

Abstract

Introduction: This study report the clinical characteristics, surgical indications, surgical technique and initial outcomes of autologous pericardial aortic valve reconstruction using Ozaki’s procedure. Methods: The study included consecutive patients with isolated aortic valve disease who underwent Ozaki’s procedure between June 2017 and December 2019. Aortic valve cups were reconstructed by autologous pericardium using Ozaki’s procedure. Results: Seventy-two patients were enrolled (mean age 52.9 ± 13 years; 53 males) and consisted of 30 aortic stenosis cases, 20 aortic regurgitation cases, and 22 patients with a combination of both 72 patients, a bicuspid aortic valve was present in 20, and 7 patients had infective endocarditis. Surgery was performed via a full or partial sternotomy. The procedure was successful in 70 case, and two patients were converted to prosthetic valve replacement. The aortic cross-clamp time was 106.3 ± 13.8 minutes, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 136.7 ± 18.5 minutes. One patient died of cardiac tamponade in hospital, and two patients underwent reoperation due to bleeding and sternal infection, respectively, were observed during the follow-up period of 30 days. 1-month postoperative echocardiography revealed that one patient had moderate aortic valve regurgitation, max trans-valvular pressure gradient was 16.1 ± 2.3 mmHg, and aortic valve area was 2.5 ± 0.2 cm ². Conclusions: Aortic valve reconstruction using autologous pericardium by Ozaki’s procedure was feasible, good hemodynamics, and can be applied to all lesions of the aortic valve.