Implementing David Procedure in Latin America: Closing the Gap with High-Income Countries

David procedure has shown to be a low-risk perioperative procedure even in challenged scenarios cases, with favorable long-term outcomes and additional benefits linked to the avoidance of prosthetic valves, including freedom from anticoagulation and reintervention, reduced risk of thromboembolic complications and endocarditis. Furthermore, an aortic valve preservation program in Colombia confers probably specific advantages to our population, considering the sociodemographic factors of middle-income countries.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and perioperative results, as well as short-term follow-up data of patients who underwent David procedure at one clinical center from Colombia between November 2021 and June 2024.

One hundred and three patients were treated, with a mean age of 60 years, of whom 82.3% were male. In most cases, the preoperative diagnosis was aortic root dilation, with 80% presenting severe aortic insufficiency. Also 11.6% were initially diagnosed with type A acute dissection. The 30-day mortality was 0.9%. There were no cases of perioperative myocardial infarction nor dialysis requirement. Other complications were atrial fibrillation in 29.13% and acute renal failure in 9.7%. Follow-up was completed in 97.08% of cases, with survival rates at one year of 99%. Freedom from reintervention, endocarditis, and freedom from anticoagulation at one year were 100%, 100%, and 67%, respectively.

In our study, David procedure emerged as an effective procedure, offering potential benefits that could be particularly relevant in middle-income countries. Perioperative and follow-up outcomes were comparable to those reported in large series from high-income countries.