Long-term results after aortic root replacement using self-assembled valve composite grafts in patients with small...

The study was aimed to evaluate operative and long-term results after complete root replacement using self-assembled valve composite grafts in patients with a small aortic annulus.

Among 547 consecutive patients who received the Bentall procedure between 2000 and 2012, a total of 29 patients (61 ± 10; range 42-79 years) had an annulus of ≤20 mm (mean 19.0 ± 0.9). Patients with a native aortic valve (22) suffered from stenosis, insufficiency or mixed defect in 10, 10 and 2 cases, respectively. Among the remaining 7 patients with an artificial aortic valve, there were 3 symptomatic prosthesis-patient mismatches, 3 valve prosthesis deteriorations (1 structural and 2 none-structural) and 1 paravalvular leak. Indication for aortic root replacement was true or false aneurysm, porcelain aorta and intraoperative aortic wall injury in 17, 6 and 6 patients, respectively.

The composite graft for complete aortic root replacement was assembled using a mechanical (26) or biological (3) valve prosthesis placed inside a vascular graft with a median size of 24 (range 22-26) mm. The margin of the tube beneath the valve was anastomosed to the aortic annulus, and coronary ostia were implanted in the usual manner. The mean transvalvular gradient at discharge was 10.8 ± 3.9 mmHg and remained virtually unchanged at the follow-up completed for all patients. Early mortality was 0. During the mean follow-up of 95.8 ± 43.7 months, 2 patients died (54 and 146 months after surgery) due to pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction, respectively.

In patients with a small aortic annulus who need complete aortic root replacement, an oversizing of the valve can be easily achieved using modified, self-assembled composite grafts. Offering excellent haemodynamic characteristics, these grafts lead to prevention of prosthesis-patient mismatch and result in very good and durable functional and clinical results.