Early and long-term results of aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery for bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate early and long-term clinical outcomes following aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery in patients with leaking bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

METHODS

The study consisted of 92 consecutive adult patients (tricuspid aortic valve group = 63 and bicuspid aortic valve group = 29) who underwent aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery with or without aortic cusp repair for dilatation of the aortic root and/or aortic valve regurgitation at our institution from April 2004 to October 2016. Clinical outcomes were investigated using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests between groups.

RESULTS

The follow-up was 100% complete with a mean time of 5.3 ± 3.3 years. The 30-day in-hospital mortality was 3.1% in tricuspid aortic valve group and 3.4% in bicuspid aortic valve group patients. The overall survival rates at 10 years did not differ between bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve patient groups (96.6 ± 3.3% vs. 90.3 ± 4.2%, p = 0.3). Freedom from recurrent aortic valve regurgitation (>2+) at 10 years was 90.5 ± 4.1% in tricuspid aortic valve group and 75.7 ± 8.7% in bicuspid aortic valve group (p = 0.06). Freedom from aortic valve reoperation at 10 years was 100% in tricuspid aortic valve group and 83.9 ± 7.4% in bicuspid aortic valve group (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery is a safe and efficient technique, providing acceptable long-term survival with low rates of valve-related complications in both tricuspid aortic valve and bicuspid aortic valve patient groups. However, aortic valve reoperation rates at 10 years follow-up were higher in bicuspid aortic valve group patients compared to tricuspid aortic valve group patients.