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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
[Discuss Many to Benefit More - Five-Year Analysis of a Multidisciplinary Aortic Board]
Katrin Meisenbacher1, Uwe Geis1, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor2
1Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie und Endovaskuläre Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Deutschland.
Insights
Multidisciplinary aortic boards (mAB) effectively filter patients towards conservative treatment, but many patients recommended for surgery do not receive it. Improving mAB performance requires a central management office and registry for better aortic disease management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Medical Decision Making
Background:
- Multidisciplinary aortic boards (mAB) are crucial for managing complex aortic pathologies.
- Evaluating mAB performance is essential for optimizing patient care pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the patient volume and discipline-specific contributions to a maximum care hospital's mAB.
- To review treatment indications and patient allocation decisions made by the mAB.
- To identify areas for improvement in mAB function and patient management.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patients discussed in the mAB from 01/2014 to 12/2018.
- Inclusion of data from Heidelberg University Hospital's Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, and Radiology departments.
- Review of patient demographics, treatment indications (conservative vs. surgical), and actual therapies received.
Main Results:
- 344 patients were discussed over five years (median 71/year), predominantly from Vascular Surgery (76%).
- Surgical treatment was indicated in 45% of cases, with a nearly equal distribution between Vascular and Cardiac Surgery referrals.
- A significant proportion (39%) of patients indicated for surgery did not receive the recommended treatment.
Conclusions:
- The mAB plays a key role in directing patients towards conservative management.
- The high volume from outpatient sectors highlights the mAB's reliance on external referrals.
- A central management office and registry are recommended to enhance mAB effectiveness and ensure adherence to surgical recommendations.
Background:
Multidisciplinary aortic boards (mAB) are a valuable tool for decision making in patients with aortic pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mAB of a maximum care hospital with regards to total patient volume and discipline-specific presentations. Furthermore, the indications for conservative/surgical treatment and the patients' allocation were reviewed.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients discussed in the mAB of Heidelberg University Hospital (Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery [VS]/Department of Cardiac Surgery [CS]/Department of Radiology), between 01/2014 and 12/2018.
Results:
Within a five-year period, 344 patients (median of 71 patients/year) were discussed. Of those, 262 (76%) were presented by VS, mostly recruited from the outpatient sector. Another 63 cases (18%), originated from CS and 19 patients (6%) from other disciplines. An indication for surgical treatment was defined in 153 of 344 patients (45%), whereas 191 of 344 cases (55%) were treated in a conservative fashion. Procedures performed by VS were indicated in 85/153 (55%) cases, including 25% (22/85) of non-VS-patients. Procedures performed by CS were indicated in 68/153 (45%) cases containing 84% (57/68) of non-CS-patients. Despite a dedicated indication for surgery, 59/153 patients (39%) did not receive the recommended therapy.
Conclusion:
mAB maintenance is highly dependent on the outpatient sector. With respect to patient selection, the mAB has an important filter function towards conservative treatment. The nearly balanced distribution between VS and CS underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to aortic surgery. Given the relevant number of untreated patients, a central management office with an in-hospital registry seems crucial in order to improve mAB performance.
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