Early experience with valve-sparing aortic root replacement in children.
BACKGROUND
Aortic valve-sparing root replacement has become an established treatment for adults with aneurysms of the ascending aorta, but there is limited experience in children, for whom the advantages of avoiding valve prostheses are particularly attractive.


METHODS
A retrospective clinical study was undertaken to examine results of aortic valve-sparing operations in pediatric patients at a single institution. Clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained from chart review and outpatient follow-up examination.


RESULTS
Between 1997 and 2004, 19 children underwent aortic valve-sparing root replacement. Mean age was 12.2 +/- 4.4 years, and mean weight was 51.5 +/- 22.9 kg. Median length of clinical follow-up was 58 months (range, 5 to 91). Fifteen of 19 patients (78.9%) had Marfan syndrome and 1 had aortic root dilation late after the arterial switch operation. Mean preoperative root diameter was 4.7 +/- 0.6 cm, with an average Z score of 7.7 +/- 1.9. Fourteen patients (73.7%) underwent root remodeling, whereas 5 (26.3%) had a reimplantation procedure. One patient required concomitant mitral valve repair. There was no operative mortality and only 1 reoperation for bleeding (5.3%). Median length of hospital stay was 5 days (range, 3 to 12). At latest follow-up, 3 of 19 patients (15.8%) have required late aortic valve replacement. Fifteen patients have no or mild aortic valve insufficiency, and 1 has moderate but stable valve regurgitation. No patient with a reimplantation procedure has had a reoperation or more than mild insufficiency, and no patient has suffered endocarditis or thromboembolism.


CONCLUSIONS
Valve-sparing aortic root replacement is a viable alternative to root replacement with mechanical or biological prostheses in children, and can be accomplished with minimal morbidity and mortality. Reimplantation procedures appear to have more durable results than root remodeling techniques, and should be strongly considered for pediatric patients with aortic root enlargement secondary to connective tissue disorders and other forms of congenital heart disease.
Vricella
Luca A
LA
Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. lvricella@jhmi.edu
Williams
Jason A
JA
Ravekes
William J
WJ
Holmes
Kathryn W
KW
Dietz
Harry C
HC
Gott
Vincent L
VL
Cameron
Duke E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008499:Medical Records; D012092:Replantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies