Composite valve graft implantation for the treatment of aortic valve and root disease: Results in 1045 patients

Abstract

Objectives: Aortic root replacement using a composite graft is the treatment of choice for a large variety of aortic root conditions with a diseased aortic valve. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the long-term results of this procedure.

Methods: Between 1978 and 2010, 1045 patients aged 58.7 ± 13.6 years underwent aortic root composite graft replacement using the following techniques: 95 Bentall operation; 926 the "button technique;" 24 the Cabrol technique. A mechanical composite valve graft was implanted in 69.6% of the patients. Six-hundred and thirty-five patients (62.3%) had annuloaortic ectasia and 162 (15.5%) had aortic dissection.

Results: Early mortality was 5.3% (55/1045). Independent risk factors for early mortality at logistic regression analysis were age ≥70 years (P = .051; odds ratio [OR], 2.97), New York Heart Association III-IV (P = .052; OR, 1.88), reoperation (P = .021; OR, 2.36), urgency/emergency (P = .003; OR, 3.09), mitral valve replacement (P = .001; OR, 6.01), or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (P < .001; OR, 4.39); while bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) (P = .013; OR, 0.21), and time of operation 2001-2011 (P = .025; OR, 0.60) were protective predictors for early mortality. Overall survival at 5, 10, and 20 years was 84.1% ± 1.3%, 65.5% ± 2.6%, and 40.7% ± 4.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed chronic renal insufficiency (P = .001; hazard ratio [HR], 3.48), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .027; HR, 1.94), aortic dissection (P = .001; HR, 2.63), Cabrol technique (P = .009; HR, 15.34), and CABG (P = .016; HR, 2.02) to be significant predictors of late death, and BAV (P = .010; HR, 0.43) to be a significant protective predictor. Freedom from thromboembolism, bleeding complications, and endocarditis was 93.7% ± 2.6%, 90.3% ± 3.1%, and 98.4% ± 1% at 20 years, respectively. Freedom from aortic reoperation was 91.8% ± 2.1% at 20 years and was significantly lower in patients with aortic dissection.

Conclusions: Within the limitations of this retrospective study, we can conclude that aortic root replacement for aortic root aneurysms can be performed with low morbidity and mortality and with satisfactory long-term results. Few late serious complications were related to the need for long-term anticoagulation or a prosthetic valve. Reoperation on the proximal or in the distal aorta was most commonly performed in patients with aortic dissection.

Keywords: Bentall procedure; aorta; aortic valve; composite valve graft.