title: Sixteen-year results of composite aortic root replacement for non-dissecting chronic aortic aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing a Bentall procedure or its button modification for chronic aortic aneurysms with aortic valve incompetence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1986 and January 2002, 65 patients (84% males, mean age 58.9 +/- 11 years) underwent aortic root replacement with a Bentall or a button-Bentall operation. Annuloaortic ectasia was the most frequent cause of aortic disease in this series (n = 37, 56.9%), followed by atherosclerotic aneurysms (n = 22, 33.9%), and post-stenotic dilation (n = 5, 7.7%). One patient (1.5%) underwent redo aortic root replacement,3 (4.6%) had a Marfan syndrome, and 6 (9.2%) underwent a concomitant replacement of the aortic arch. The duration of follow-up ranged from 2 to 192 months (mean 89.6 +/- 21.8 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day mortality was 0%. Early non-fatal complications comprised: bleeding requiring surgical re-exploration (n = 1, 1.5%), low output syndrome (n = 1, 1.5%), acute renal insufficiency (n = 1, 1.5%), transient ischemic attack (n = 2, 3.1%), stroke (n = 1, 1.5%), and pulmonary insufficiency (n = 1, 1.5%). There was a late death due to a pulmonary neoplasm. The 16-year actuarial survival was 97 +/- 2% (hazard 0.02 +/- 0.02). No patient required reoperation. Furthermore, the long-term clinical follow-up was characterized by the complete absence of endocarditis, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, valve thrombosis, and prosthetic failure. Finally, the NYHA functional status was significantly improved (1.1 +/- 0.50, p < 0.001 vs preoperatively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The late results of the Bentall and button-Bentall procedures were excellent. Our findings confirm that these techniques still constitute the gold standard in the surgical treatment of combined valve and ascending aorta pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, S. Maria della Misericordia General Hospital, Udine, Italy. sandrogelsomino@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masullo
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morocutti
authors.forename: Romeo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frassani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Da Col
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spedicato
authors.forename: Ugolino
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Livi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome