title: Quality of life after aortic valve repair is similar to Ross patients and superior to mechanical valve replacement: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients after aortic valve surgery, the quality of life is hypothesized to be influenced by the type of the valve procedure. A cross-sectional study on the postoperative quality of life was carried out in patients after aortic valve-sparing surgery (with regards to the age of the patient), Ross procedure and mechanical aortic valve replacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of life was studied in 139 patients after aortic valve surgery divided into four study groups (Y - aortic valve-sparing procedure at the age below 50 years, mean age 36.2 years; O - aortic valve-sparing procedure at the age 50 years and over, mean age 59.2 years; R - Ross procedure, mean age 37.8 years and M - mechanical aortic valve replacement at the age below 50 years, mean age 39.2 years). SF-36 Short Form and valve-specific questionnaires were mailed to the patients after 6 months or later following surgery (median 26.9 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In SF-36, the younger aortic valve repair patients and the Ross patients scored significantly better in 4 of 4 physical subscales and in 2 of 4 mental subscales than the older aortic valve repair and mechanical valve replacement patients. In the valve-specific questionnaire; however, all 3 groups free of anticoagulation (Y, O, and R) displayed greater freedom from negative valve-related concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative quality of life is influenced by the type of aortic valve procedure and is negatively linked with mechanical prosthesis implantation and long-term anticoagulation. Aortic valve-sparing strategy should be considered in cases with suitable valve morphology due to favorable clinical results and beneficial impact on the long-term quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. pavel.zacek@fnhk.cz.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zacek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Kerckhoff Heart and Lung Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holubec
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vobornik
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dominik
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takkenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, Sokolska 581, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vojacek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Anticoagulation; Aortic valve; Quality of life; Ross procedure; Valve replacement; Valve-sparing