Valve-sparing aortic root replacement in bicuspid aortic valves: a reasonable option?
OBJECTIVE
Aortic dilatation occurs in many patients with bicuspid aortic valves. We have added root replacement using the remodeling technique originally designed for tricuspid aortic valves to bicuspid aortic valve repair for treatment of the dilated root. We compared the results of remodeling in bicuspid aortic valves with those in tricuspid aortic valves.


METHODS
From October 1995 through January 2004, 60 patients underwent root remodeling for bicuspid aortic valves (group A), and 130 patients underwent root remodeling for tricuspid aortic valves (group B). Correction of cusp prolapse was more often performed in group A (group A, 50/60; group B, 47/130; P < .0001). Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at 1 week, 6 and 12 months, and every year thereafter. Cumulative follow-up was 527 patient-years (mean, 2.9 +/- 2 years).


RESULTS
No patient died in group A. Hospital mortality in group B was 5% (5/100; 95% confidence interval,1.6%-11.3%) after elective operations and 10% (3/30; 95% confidence interval, 2.1%-26.5%) after emergency operations. Mean systolic gradients were identical at 1 year (group A, 4.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg; group B, 4.0 +/- 2 mm Hg) and 5 years (group A, 4.5 +/- 2.3 mm Hg; group B, 3.9 +/- 2.2 mm Hg). Freedom from aortic regurgitation of grade 2 or higher at 5 years was 96% in group A and 83% in group B ( P = .07), and freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 98% in group A and 98% in group B ( P = .73).


CONCLUSIONS
Valve-sparing aortic replacement with root remodeling can be applied to aortic dilatation and a regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve. Hemodynamic function and valve stability of a repaired bicuspid aortic valve are comparable with those seen in cases of tricuspid anatomy.
Aicher
Diana
D
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospitals Homburg, 6624 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Langer
Frank
F
Kissinger
Anke
A
Lausberg
Henning
H
Fries
Roland
R
Schäfers
Hans-Joachim
HJ
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome