As valve-sparing procedures gain increasing popularity, the long-term results of the total aortic root replacement (TARR) were evaluated using mechanical valve grafts in selected patients.
From January 1993 to December 2003, 100 patients (87 men), aged >65 years (mean 51 (SD 10.4 years), presenting with isolated aortic root dilatation with or without aortic valve insufficiency, undergoing elective root replacement using a mechanical valve graft were reviewed. The aetiology of aortic root disease was degenerative in 69 patients and related to the bicuspid aortic valve in 31 patients. In 11 patients, concomitant coronary artery bypass graft was performed. Hospital mortality was 4%. Overall survival was 93.9% (2.4%), 89.1% (3.5%) and 83.2% (5.2%) at 1, 5 and 7 years, respectively. 14 patients experienced 45 embolic events (3.21 (2.64) events/patient; range: 1-10 events). Thus, the linearised rate of embolic events was 10.3 per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.29 to 13.31). The actuarial embolism-free survival was 96.6% (1.9%), 77.1% (6%) and 74.3% (6.4%) at 1, 5 and 7 years, respectively. The linearised rate of bleeding events was 2.2 per 100 patient-years (95% CI 0.87 to 3.71). Actuarial bleeding free survival was 95.6% (2.1%), 93.2% (2.6%) and 87.7% (5.8%) at 1, 5 and 7 years. respectively. None of the patients required reoperation and no cases of structural or non-structural valve dysfunction were observed.
TARR using mechanical valve grafts yields excellent survival results in selected patients. However, a high rate of minor thromboembolic events was recorded. Aspirin in combination with oral anticoagulants might be of potential interest in these patients.