Comparison of Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Reimplantation versus Bentall Root Procedure

A bioprosthesis- or mechanical-prosthesis-containing polyester graft (composite graft) is standard surgical management for aortic root aneurysms (Bentall procedure), but particularly in the young patient in whom a bioprosthesis is likely to deteriorate and a mechanical prosthesis mandates life-long anticoagulation, valve-sparing procedures have been devised. One such procedure involves reimplantation of the native aortic valve in the polyester graft. With focus on selecting the optimum procedure for young relatively asymptomatic patients, we compared outcomes of reimplantation of the aortic valve versus the Bentall procedure and identified factors influencing outcomes.

From January 2000 to January 2017, 643 adults age ≤ 70 with tricuspid aortic valves underwent elective aortic root replacement with either reimplantation (n = 448/70%) or a composite valve graft (Bentall) procedure (n = 195/30%). Outcomes were compared in 100 propensity-matched pairs.

Patients with fewer symptoms, less aortic regurgitation (AR), higher left ventricular ejection fraction, and smaller cross-sectional aortic area/height ratio had a higher likelihood of valve repair with reimplantation (all p < 0.02) versus receiving a Bentall procedure. Operative mortality was 0.16% (reimplantation, 1/448, 0.22%; Bentall 0/195, 0%). After reimplantation, 8-year freedom from severe AR was 95% and 10-year freedom from reintervention was 98%. Ten-year survival was 95%. Higher preoperative AR grade (p < 0.0001) but not larger root diameter (p = 0.3) was associated with higher grade of late regurgitation after a reimplantation procedure. Among propensity-matched patients, reimplantation compared with a Bentall was associated with similar 10-year survival (89% vs. 94%), but more late AR (8-year freedom from severe AR: 93% vs. 99.9%) and greater early reduction in, but similar late, left ventricular mass (104 vs. 105 g•m^-2 at 8 years).

Excellent aortic valve reimplantation results versus Bentall lead us to recommend reimplantation more often in patients who present with even moderately severe or severe AR and significantly enlarged aortic roots.