Early and late results of aortic root replacement with antibiotic-sterilized aortic homograft

Between November 1972 and November 1986, 108 patients aged 5 to 73 years had complete replacement of the aortic root with an aortic homograft into which the coronary arteries were implanted. The main indications were (1) a tunnel type of aortic obstruction involving a hypoplastic ring, (2) a para-aortic annular abscess, (3) prosthetic valve dysfunction, mainly a previous aortic homograft, and (4) aortic stenosis with a small aortic anulus. Eighty-four patients (78%) had previous aortic valve operations. Concomitant cardiac procedures were done in 34 patients (32%). The 30-day mortality rate was 14% (15 patients). The cumulative follow-up period was 180.3 patient-years. The late mortality rate was 6.1% per patient-year (11 patients). The patients were not given anticoagulants postoperatively, but the entire group has been completely free from thromboembolism. The actuarial 5-year survival rate including operative deaths was 72%. The freedom from valve-related death at 5 years after operation is 86% and freedom from reoperation at 5 years is 96%. The use of homografts for replacement of the aortic valve and root in patients with complex lesions affecting these structures has shown encouraging early and late results, with regard to both survival and valve performance.