title: Reduction aortoplasty for dilatation of the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with bicuspid aortic valve tend to develop a dilatation of the ascending aorta. It is controversial whether the dilated ascending aorta should be replaced with a tube graft or whether the diameter of the aorta should be reduced by reduction aortoplasty. Furthermore, it is unclear whether an external prosthetic support of the reduction aortoplasty is necessary. The aim of this study is to analyze the results of reduction aortoplasty with and without external prosthetic support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1985 and 1999, a total of 115 patients with bicuspid aortic valve and dilatation of the ascending aorta underwent reduction aortoplasty in combination with other types of open-heart procedure at our institution. The diameter of the ascending aorta was measured before and early after surgery and then later between 12 and 144 months (mean 40 months) postoperatively using echocardiography and computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction aortoplasty decreased the internal diameter of the aorta from 48.7+/-5.1 mm preoperatively to 36.9+/-3.6 mm early after surgery (p = 0.0001). During follow-up, there was no increase of the aortic diameter either in patients with external prosthetic support or in 97 of 106 patients without external prosthetic support. The diameter increased only in 9 (8.5%) of 106 patients without external aortic support by 4 to 8 mm. In patients with postoperative diameter increase, the aortic diameter after operation had been higher than in patients without a postoperative increase of the aortic diameter (41.4+/-3.1 mm vs 36.6+/-3.4 mm; p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduction aortoplasty showed good long-term results in patients with bicuspid aortic valve and dilatation of the ascending aorta. Redilation of the aorta occurred only in patients with a suboptimal diameter reduction.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Miralem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasic
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schaffarzyk
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Siniawski
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Knollmann
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hetzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality