Aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft: An invariably competent aortic valve?

Background. Pulmonary autograft aortic root replacement was used in adults. Risk factors for aortic regurgitation (AR), and for pulmonary allograft va lve stenosis are identified. Methods. From February 1991 through April 1998, 80 adults (mean age 34.5 ye ars) underwent pulmonary autograft aortic root replacement. Primary diagnos is was AR in 43 (53.7%) patients, aortic stenosis in 13 (16.3%) and mixed d isease in 24 (30%) patients. A root reinforcement ring was used in 32 (40%) patients. Results. There was no hospital mortality. Estimated patient survival is 100 % at 7 years. A total of 3 patients underwent reoperation: 2 on the autogra ft for severe AR, 1 for pulmonary allograft stenosis. Freedom from reoperat ion on the autograft is 96.7 +/- 2.4% at 7 years. Multivariate analysis ind icated bicuspid aortic valve disease as an incremental risk factor for AR a t discharge (p = 0.036, odds 3.5). Univariate analysis identified operation for pure AR as risk factor far AR during follow-up (p = 0.041). Mild AR or more increased from 2.5% at discharge to 11.3% during follow-up (p = 0.008 ). Progression of AR was limited by the use of a reinforcement root ring (p = 0.031). Freedom from mild AR or more in patients with and without a rein forcement root ring was 100% and 72.9 +/- 9.3% respectively, at 5 years (p = 0.119). Pulmonary allograft stenosis occurred in 15 (22.5%) patients. Mul tivariate analysis revealed that large sized pulmonary allografts were less prone to stenosis (p 0.048, odds 0.13). Conclusions. Pulmonary autograft root replacement can be performed with few complications. During follow-up, a significant increase in mild AR or more is observed. The use of a reinforcement root ring is effective in preventi ng progression of AR. (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.