title: Reduction ascending aortoplasty: midterm follow-up and predictors of redilatation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduction ascending aortoplasty is an alternative procedure to the replacement of the ascending aorta in case of ascending aorta aneurysm without aortic root involvement. This study was designed to evaluate the midterm follow-up of aortoplasty and to determine predictors of redilatation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1, 1998, to April 30, 2005, 68 patients with dilatation of the ascending aorta underwent unsupported reduction aortoplasty in combination with other cardiac procedures. All patients underwent associated surgical procedures. Sixty patients (88.2%) underwent associated aortic valve replacement. Cumulative follow-up time was 191.4 patient-years and was 100% complete. Median follow-up time was 2.5 years, and mean follow-up time was 2.9 +/- 1.7 years (range, 0.4 to 6.3 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall perioperative mortality rate was 1.5%. Overall survival estimates at 3 and 6 years were 93.3% +/- 4.5% and 89.3% +/- 5.9%, respectively. The actuarial freedom from cardiac-related death at 3 and 6 years was 100% and 95.7% +/- 4.3%, respectively. Ascending aorta redilatation occurred in 5 patients (7.5%). The actuarial freedom from redilatation at 3 and 6 years was 97.7% +/- 2.3% and 79.8% +/- 8.4%, respectively. The actuarial freedom from reoperation at 3 and 6 years was 100% and 86.3% +/- 7.5%, respectively. Only preoperative diameter was a significant predictor of redilatation using multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unsupported reduction aortoplasty is a safe and effective technique with low mortality, low morbidity, and rare late complications for selected chronic aneurysm of the ascending aorta with diameter less than 55 mm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polvani
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barili
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dainese
authors.forename: Veli K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Topkara
authors.forename: Faisal H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Penza
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parolari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alamanni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biglioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation