title: First 102 patients with the BioValsalva conduit for aortic root replacement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We retrospectively evaluated our results with the BioValsalva Conduit (Vascutek Terumo, Renfrewshire Scotland), a stentless porcine valve incorporated in a 3-layered prosthetic graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2008 through April 2011, 102 patients with a mean age of 70.9 ± 7.3 years underwent aortic root replacement with a BioValsalva conduit. The indication for surgery was aneurysmal disease of the aorta in 81 patients (79.4%), aortic valve endocarditis in 15 patients (14.7%), acute type A aortic dissection in 4 patients (3.9%), and other causes in 2 patients (2.0%). In 26 patients (25.5%), the intervention was a reoperation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall hospital mortality was 4.9% (n = 5; 95% confidence limit [CL], 1.6%-11.1%). Cause of death was cardiac failure in 2 patients, multiple organ or renal failure in 2 patients, and tamponade in 1 patient. Mean follow-up was 8.1 months. During follow-up, 3 deaths occurred (3.1%) because of mediastinitis, cardiac ischemia, and arrhythmia. The overall survival at 3 and 12 months was 95.9% (95% CL, 92.0% -99.9%) and 92.1% (95% CL, 85.7% -98.9%) respectively. Three patients (3.1%) had new-onset endocarditis of the BioValsalva conduit; 2 of these patients required reoperation and 1 patient received antibiotic treatment only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrospective analysis of the BioValsalva conduit for aortic root replacement in more than 100 consecutive patients demonstrated satisfactory initial results, with low mortality and acceptable low morbidity rates. Follow-up is mandatory and long-term results are to be awaited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. a_kaya33@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Robin H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Heijmen
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kelder
authors.forename: Wim J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Morshuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies