Cor Vasa 2010, 52(10):594-596 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2010.152

Aortic valve reimplantation

Jiří Novosad^1,*, Karel Lukeš¹, Martin Urban¹, Piotr Branny¹, Renáta Nevřalová², Libor Škňouřil²

¹ Oddělení kardiochirurgie, Kardiocentrum, Nemocnice Podlesí, a. s., Třinec

² Oddělení kardiologie, Kardiocentrum, Nemocnice Podlesí, a. s., Třinec, Česká republika

Aim: The technique of aortic valve reimplantation (David I) was established in our center in 2005 to be used in the management of patients with aortic root involvement combined with aortic valve insufficiency. The aim of our study was to assess aortic valve function at 1-5 years post-surgery.

Method: Overall, seven patients (four men, three women) with a mean age of 56.4 years (43-72) were operated. All were diagnosed to have aortic root and ascending aorta dilatation, and aortic valve insufficiency. No impairment of the cusps was demonstrated. Marfan syndrome or ascending aorta dissection were not diagnosed in any of the patients, and the surgery was a scheduled procedure in all cases.

Results: Average blood loss was 1 155 ± 548 ml, with none of the patients requiring revision for bleeding. Six patients were discharged to receive home care within 6-11 days post-surgery, one female patient after 26 days (due to long-term mechanical ventilation). Echocardiography on follow-up at 12 months revealed aortic valve insufficiency grade 0-1 in six patients, and grade 2 in one. After five years, severe aortic valve insufficiency was documented in only one patient.

Conclusion: Aortic valve reimplantation is a complex procedure involving the aortic root. The technique is ideal, mainly for younger patients, as long as the aortic valve morphology has been properly assessed and surgery appropriately performed.

Keywords: Aortic valve insufficiency; Sinotubular junction dilatation; Aortic valve reimplantation

Published: October 1, 2010  Show citation