Twenty-year experience with the Konno operation: Konno incision does not impair LV function

There has been no report observing the LV function of Konno incision. We examined the outcomes of the Konno operations over 20 years.

We investigated 63 Konno operations with mechanical valves performed from 1984. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Konno incision including LV function changes and the long-term outcomes of patient survival and reoperation rate (RVOT and LVOT complications).

The postoperative follow-up period was 20.6 ± 6.2 years. Early death occurred in 1 case and late death occurred in 9 cases. The cumulative survival rate was 89.6, 87.5, and 84.5% in the 5th, 10th, and 20th follow-up years. Five patients required reoperation for the aortic valve. The recurrence avoidance rate for LVOT reoperation was 96.6, 94.7, and 92% in the 5th, 10th, and 20th follow-up years of the Konno operation. Konno incision did not show significant decline in postoperative LV ejection fraction. (Pre, 62% vs 20 years later, 58%; P = 0.052.) There were no cases requiring intervention at the event of ventricular arrhythmia, but 13 cases were Complete Right bundle branch block, and 11 cases were Left bundle branch block.

The survival rate associated with Konno operation throughout 20 years was excellent. Konno incision can secure sufficient LV outflow tract and is a safe treatment for complex LVOTO without deteriorating LV ejection fraction.