Reoperative aortic root replacement for prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis: impact of aortic graft

Existing aortic graft complicates the surgical management of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE); yet, its impact has not been well studied. We compared outcomes of patients with prior aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus aortic surgery plus AVR, who underwent reoperative aortic root replacement (ARR) for PVE of the aortic valve.

All patients who underwent reoperative ARR for PVE between 2004 and 2021 from 2 aortic centres were included. Two groups were formed based on the presence/absence of aortic graft: prior aortic surgery (AO) and prior AVR (AV) alone. Inverse propensity treatment weighting matched the groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyse long-term survival, and Fine and Gray model was used to compare the cumulative incidence of reoperation.

A total of 130 patients were included (AO n = 59; AV n = 71). After matching, AO patients had increased stroke incidence (12.4% vs 0.9%) and renal failure requiring dialysis (11.5% vs 2.5%). In-hospital mortality was comparable (21.5% AO and 18.6% AV). Survival over 5 years was 68.9% (56.6-83.8%) in AO and 62.7% (48.1-81.7%) in AV (P = 0.70). The cumulative incidence of reoperation was similar [AO 6.3% (0.0-13.2%) vs AV 6.1% (0.0-15.1%), P = 0.69].

Reoperative ARRs for prosthetic valve/graft endocarditis are high-risk procedures. AO patients had higher incidence of postoperative morbidity versus AV patients. For all patients surviving operative intervention, survival and reoperation rates over 5 years were comparable between groups.