title: Reoperations on the aortic root and ascending aorta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reoperations on the aortic root and the ascending aorta are being performed with increasing frequency and remain a challenging problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one patients (age range, 14 to 78 years) underwent reoperations on the aortic root or the ascending aorta during a 14.5-year interval ending October 1996. The previous operations were aortic valve procedure (28%), coronary artery bypass grafting (25%), aortic root replacement (24%), ascending aortic replacement (19%), and miscellaneous (5%). Twenty-two patients (27%) had had two or more previous operations. The principal indications for reoperation were true or false aneurysm (35%), acute or chronic dissection (28%), and malfunction of an aortic valve substitute (27%). The reoperations performed were aortic root replacement (composite graft, allograft, or autograft) in 48 patients and graft replacement of the ascending aorta in 33 patients. Concomitant procedures included aortic arch replacement in 43 patients (55%) and coronary artery bypass grafting in 33 patients (41%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day mortality rate was 8.6% (7 patients). It was 8.3% for aortic root replacement and 9.1% for ascending aorta replacement (p > 0.05). Using stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis of 23 variables, preoperative functional class III/IV (p = 0.047) and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (p = 0.007) were significant independent predictors of early death. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.6 years. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 89%, 81%, and 69%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation on the heart or ascending aorta was 98%, 92%, and 69%, respectively. Reoperation for false aneurysm (p = 0.050) and the presence of coexisting coronary artery disease requiring bypass grafting (p = 0.010) were the only significant predictors of late mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reoperations on the aortic root and the ascending aorta can be accomplished with acceptable early mortality and satisfactory long-term results. More frequent resection of the aneurysmal or dissected segments of the ascending aorta and aortic root at the initial operation may reduce the need for subsequent reoperation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Heart Center, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, BJC Health System, St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dougenis
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Daily
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Kouchoukos
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate