Aortic root replacement: comparison of clinical outcome between different surgical techniques†

OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of different surgical procedures on clinical outcome in patients undergoing aortic root replacement for ascending aorta aneurysm (AAA) with or without concomitant aortic valve regurgitation (AR). METHODS: Between 2000 and 2011, a total of 370 patients (mean age 52 ± 17 years) underwent aortic root replacement. Patients were retrospectively assigned to three groups according to the surgical procedures: valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) (Group A; n = 178), Bentall procedure with a biological conduit (Group B; n = 91) and with a mechanical conduit (Group C; n = 101). All patients were studied with clinical assessment and echocardiography during a mean follow-up time of 4.3 years. RESULTS: Estimated 5-year survival probability rates for Groups A, B and C were 95.2 ± 1.8, 80.9 ± 4.4 and 79.3 ± 4.5%, respectively (P < 0.01; log-rank). Estimated 5-year survival probability rates for patients who had undergone elective operations for Groups A, B and C were 96.1 ± 1.8, 88.9 ± 4.4 and 82.3 ± 4.9%, respectively (P = 0.02; log-rank). Actuarial overall 5-year freedom from valve-related reopera-tions was 94.3 ± 1.9%, without being significantly different between groups (P = 0.13; log-rank). Estimated 5-year probability rates for freedom from major bleeding events for Groups A, B and C were 99.3 ± 0.7, 100 and 93.0 ± 3.4%, respectively (P = 0.03; log-rank). Actuarial overall 5-year freedom from thromboembolism and endocarditis were 93.6 ± 0.2 % (P = 0.53; log-rank) and 96.1 ± 1.5 % (P = 0.46; log-rank), respectively, without significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data from the present study support the VSRR strategy in patients undergoing aortic root replacement. Furthermore