title: Partial aortic root remodeling in case of ascending aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In degenerative ascending aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the pathological process may extend into the aortic root, causing aortic regurgitation (AR). As often one or two sinuses are involved, ascending aorta replacement should be associated with selected sinus replacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients (21 men and 9 women; mean ± SD age, 70.0 ± 10.4) were operated on for ascending aorta and selected sinus replacement. All patients had degenerative AAA with sinotubular junction and partial root dilatation: one or two sinuses of Valsalva were involved. Mild to moderate-severe AR was present in all patients. The mean ± SD logistic EuroSCORE 1 was 15.4 ± 12.5. Twenty patients had ascending aorta replacement associated with noncoronary sinus replacement; 8 patients, associated with both right and noncoronary sinuses; 1 patient, associated with both left and noncoronary sinuses; and 1 patient, associated with left coronary sinus alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no hospital or late deaths. No thromboembolic event or bleeding complications were reported. Postoperative echocardiography did not show significant AR, and computed tomographic scanning revealed a normal positioning of the vascular graft in the ascending aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remodeling of the sinotubular junction with selected sinus replacement in degenerative AAA is a valuable approach for aortic root remodeling, leading to a significant reduction of AR when the aortic leaflets are normal.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Cardiac Surgery, Papardo-Piemonte Hospital, Messina, Italy; and †Division of Cardiac Surgery, Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zingarelli
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceresa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patanè
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001011:Aorta; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome