MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS AFTER AORTIC ROOT RECONSTRUCTION

Long-term survival after replacement of the aortic root with a composi te graft is improving. Late deaths are in several cases due to complic ations related to the previous surgery or to pathologies of the remain ing aorta. Regular follow-up of these patients is of paramount importa nce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of magne tic resonance imaging (MRI) in such cases. Twenty-seven patients (9 di ssections and 18 aneurysms) who had undergone replacement of the aorti c root with a composite graft were studied 20 to 167 months after surg ery using magnetic resonance imaging with a 1.5 Tesla magnet. The left -ventricular outflow tract, the mechanical valve function, the proxima l part of the coronary arteries, the graft, and the remaining aorta co uld be examined. No aortic insufficiency, ectasy of the proximal part of the coronaries, or pseudoaneurysms were seen. A widening of the rem aining ascending aorta was noted in 4 cases. A still open, dissected p ipe was visualized in 7 patients, Our conclusions are that MRI provide s excellent images of the thoracic and abdominal aorta following surgi cal repair. The examination is becoming cost-competitive. More import is its very low risk for the patient group considered here: since it i s non-invasive and requires no contrast medium or X-ray exposure, exam inations can be repeated as required.