title: Treatment of destructive aortic valve endocarditis with the Freestyle Aortic Root Bioprosthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Successful treatment of destructive aortic valve endocarditis with annular abscess formation requires extensive surgical debridement and reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and aortic root. Homograft aortic roots are the conduits of choice, but because they are not available in all cases, alternative conduits are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Owing to its features, which are comparable to those of homografts, the Freestyle aortic root xenograft was used in 10 consecutive patients aged between 32 and 77 years. All patients had extensive abscess formation, 5 presented with prosthetic valve endocarditis, 2 had additional mitral valve endocarditis requiring partial leaflet resection and reconstruction, 1 patient had an additional fistula into the right atrium, and 1 required coronary bypass. One patient developed a septic ventricular septal defect and fistula into the right atrium with tricuspid valve endocarditis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients required reoperation for bleeding. Two (20%) patients died in the postoperative period, 1 due to multiorgan failure, and 1 due to preexisting invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. At autopsy, neither had evidence of intrapericardial hematoma or suture dehiscence. One patient died 13 months postoperatively without clinical signs of valve dysfunction or recurrent endocarditis. All other patients are well at 12 to 42 months after surgery. Clinical examination and echocardiography at the most recent follow-up showed no signs of valve dysfunction, recurrent fistulation, or endocarditis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Freestyle aortic root appears to be an acceptable alternative to homografts in the treatment of severe endocarditis. Long-term valve durability in younger patients, however, remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. ludwig.mueller@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Ludwig C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Orest
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chevtchik
authors.forename: Johannes O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fille
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003646:Debridement; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000601:surgery*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery*