[Reconstruction of the aortic root: midterm results].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess mid-term results of aortic reconstruction.


METHODS
According to Dr. David's technique, 20 patients (17 males, 3 females, median age 63 years) were examined, who underwent surgery between September 1996 and August 1999. Indications for operation were aortic insufficiency with ascending aorta aneurysm in 19 patients, and acute Stanford type A dissection in 1 patient. In every patient the native valve was preserved and suspended inside a tubular prosthesis on which the coronaries were reimplanted.


RESULTS
No patient died in hospital. Follow-up (mean 13 months) was complete for all patients. One patient died of extracardiac causes. Seventeen of 19 survivors are in NYHA functional class I, the remaining 2 in class II. Nineteen patients underwent echocardiography which showed moderate aortic regurgitation in 1, mild in 6 and absent or trivial in 12. There were no instances of thromboembolism.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are encouraging and have brought us to consider aortic reconstruction a valid alternative to traditional aortic root replacement. Dr. David's technique is reproducible and reliable in the long term.
Ricchi
A
A
Divisione di Cardiochirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera G. Brotzu, Cagliari.
Carta
A M
AM
Lixi
G
G
Pani
A
A
Davoli
G
G
Del Prete
G
G
Cirio
E M
EM
Falchi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques