title: Valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction in patients with significant aortic insufficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the feasibility and outcome of the valve-sparing aortic root reimplantation technique in patients with severe preoperative aortic insufficiency (AI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Within 8 years we have operated on 158 patients with aneurysms of the ascending aorta using the reimplantation technique. We identified 83 patients with AI grade 3 or 4 (mean 3.1 +/- 0.4) preoperatively (study group). This cohort was compared with 71 patients with AI grade 2 or less (mean 1.3 +/- 0.9; control group) with regard to mortality, operative variables, complications, need for reoperation, postoperative AI, and clinical presentation during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient demographics were comparable in both groups. However, Marfan's syndrome (32% versus 13%, p = 0.006) and acute type A aortic dissection (20% versus 8.4%, p = 0.059) were more frequent in the control group. In addition, bypass (177 +/- 60 minutes versus 160 +/- 36 minutes, p = 0.022) and cross clamp times (133 +/- 34 minutes versus 124 +/- 27 minutes, p = 0.049) were significantly longer in controls. Mortality was low in the study group and comparable with controls (30-day, 3.6% versus 4.2%; during follow-up, 3.8% versus 5.9%; p = not significant [NS]). Reoperation rate was almost identical in both groups (3.8% versus 4.4%, p = NS). Mean grade of AI was significantly higher in the study group early postoperatively (0.31 +/- 0.46 versus 0.18 +/- 0.42, p = 0.049) but comparable at the last visit (0.43 +/- 0.58 versus 0.42 +/- 0.62, p = NS). During follow-up neither thromboembolic complications nor bleeding events were noted in either group. Clinical performance at the last visit revealed no significant difference between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative severe aortic insufficiency does not impair the excellent outcome seen after a mean of 3 years of follow-up in patients undergoing the reimplantation technique for valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany. kallenbach@thg.mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallenbach
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karck
authors.forename: Rainer G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Leyh
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagl
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walles
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harringer
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haverich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012092:Replantation; D015996:Survival Rate