title: Long-Term Results Following Pericardial Patch Augmentation for Incompetent Bicuspid Aortic Valves: A Single Center Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many techniques for repair of bicuspid aortic valves have been described and long-term results differ considerably. The current study evaluates our institutional results using the pericardial patch augmentation technique with the aim of increasing coaptation height.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2002 through April 2015, 103 consecutive patients underwent aortic valve repair using pericardial patch augmentation for incompetent bicuspid aortic valve. Of them 26 were referred with an aortic valve regurgitation grade 1+ or 2+ and were excluded from the current report. The remaining 77 patients with a mean age of 42 ± 14 years and aortic valve regurgitation grade of 3+ or higher were included in this retrospective single-center study. The main step of operative technique is the partial correction of leaflet prolapse by leaflet plication and overcorrection of coaptation height augmenting the fused leaflet with an autologous pericardial patch. In 45 patients (58%) an isolated aortic valve repair was performed. The ascending aorta was dilated in 32 cases (42%), and the following procedures were used for correction: reduction aortoplasty (19 patients), the David procedure (11 patients), and ascending aortic replacement (2 patients). Long-term results were evaluated by echocardiography and standardized questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 4.6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no perioperative or 90-day mortality. Survival at 5 and 10 years was 96.1% and 93.5%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation at 5 and 10 years was 94.8% and 93.5%, respectively. At the latest echocardiographic follow-up, 94% of patients had none to trivial aortic regurgitation and 6% showed aortic regurgitation greater than or equal to 2°. Mean aortic gradients were 12.6 ± 9 mm Hg. One patients developed endocarditis 1 year after the procedure. There were no perioperative or long-term major neurologic events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pericardial patch augmentation technique provides reliable long-term competence of reconstructed bicuspid aortic valves and results in a low reoperation rate, with other valve related complications being rare.
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Marlene
authors: M
authors: Thudt
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Electronic address: marlene.thudt@kgu.de.
authors: Nestoras
authors: N
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Nadejda
authors: N
authors: Monsefi
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Miskovic
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Afsaneh
authors: A
authors: Karimian-Tabrizi
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Zierer
authors: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors: Anton
authors: A
authors: Moritz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D015996:Survival Rate; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome