title: Re-do aortic root replacement after an allograft aortic root replacement.
abstract: Structural degeneration of allograft aortic root is a global process. In addition to valvular degeneration, the allograft wall calcification poses a risk of systemic calcific embolization and late phase anastomotic aneurysm formation and rupture (anecdotal). Furthermore, the valve annulus is often small, and the tissues are rigid making the implantation of an adequately sized prosthesis within the allograft wall difficult. To avoid these issues, we routinely perform re-do aortic root replacement with either a mechanical valve conduit or bio-root composite graft. The technique has been successfully used in 22 consecutive patients with no operative mortality and minimal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrtik
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tesar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult