Aortic Root Enlargement during Aortic Valve Replacement in Adults

Aortic valve replacement is a gold standard in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis or combined aortic pathology. However, aortic valve pathology is often associated with a narrow aortic orifice, particularly in patients with severe aortic stenosis. In 1978, Rahimtoola first described the term of prosthesis-patient mismatch. He noted that effective orifice area of the prosthesis is smaller than that of the native valve. To minimize this complication, there are several surgical strategies: aortic root enlargement (ARE), implantation of a frameless biological prosthesis in the native position, neocuspidalization procedure, Ross procedure, aortic root replacement with xenograft or homograft. ARE is an excellent option, however, some authors outline additional perioperative risks. The aim. To analyze immediate results of ARE during isolated aortic valve replacement and in cases when it is combined with other heart pathologies. Materials and methods. Our study included 63 patients who underwent ARE. Isolated aortic valve replacement was performed in the majority of cases, but often aortic root replacement procedure was combined with coronary artery bypass grafting. Results and discussion. One of 63 patients died (hospital mortality 1.6%) at an early hospital stage (30 postoperative days). Measurement of the aortic valve ring was performed by two methods, through preoperative echocardiography and perioperative measurement using a valve sizer. However, perioperative dimension was chosen as the basis for the calculations. In 62 patients, the perioperative diameter of the aortic valve ring ranged from 19 to 23 mm, only one patient had a diameter of 24 mm. According to our findings, ARE enabled to achieve an average aortic ring size increase of 2.68 cm2 (from 1.5 to 3.4 cm2) and to prevent prosthesis-patient mismatch in 42 (66.7%) cases. Conclusions. Prosthesis-patient mismatch is considered a serious complication in the postoperative period. Narrow aortic root is a common pathology that should be considered during surgery. ARE is a safe procedure and is not associated with an increased risk of mortality and complications.

Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Small Aortic Annulus: New Pericardial Stented Valves vs Aortic Root Enlargement Procedures.

Objectives: Newer generations of stented pericardial valves may offer hemodynamic benefit in patients with small aortic annulus. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of isolated aortic valve replacement with one such valve, the Trifecta valve, when compared to Aortic root enlargement surgery in reducing postoperative gradients and the severity of PPM in patients with small aortic annulus. Patients and methods: A prospective observational study of 100 patients with SAA who underwent AVR from March 2020 to October 2021 in Cairo university hospitals and other centers. The cohort was divided into two groups based on surgical technique: Isolated AVR using Trifecta valve or ARE and mechanical valve placement. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative times and postoperative outcomes were recorded and compared in all patients, including a pre-discharge echocardiography. Results: Increased operative times, increased ICU stay and need for blood products were observed in the ARE group and operative time was determined as an independent risk factor. Higher rate of complications such as need for permanent pacemaker as well increased postoperative drainage was also recorded in ARE group, with no difference between groups in in-hospital mortality. Higher incidence of PPM was recorded in the Trifecta group (24%) compared to the ARE group (8%). but, the severity of PPM within the Trifecta group was reduced compared to the ARE group, and no degree of PPM was observed in Trifecta valves sized 21. Conclusion The Trifecta valve offers excellent postoperative hemodynamics and significant reduction in severity of PPM in patients with SAA undergoing AVR, with gradients and iEOA almost comparable to larger sized valves implanted after ARE, making the increased surgical burden of ARE unnecessary in most patients.

Modified Manouguian Technique for Aortic Root Enlargement: A Case Series

Background: Manouguian aortic root enlargement (ARE) has been a standard root enlargement procedure to assist in patients with a small annular size. We describe a modification to the Manouguian ARE similar to Yang et al. This approach could serve as an alternate technique for performing ARE; to date only case reports have defined this approach and no studies have evaluated its efficacy or safety. Methods: A retrospective case series was performed on patients who underwent ARE for surgical aortic valve replacement via the modified Manouguian procedure at a single institution. Thirteen patients were identified between 2015-2021, and all surgeries were performed by a single operator. Data were collected via the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database and chart review. The primary outcome was difference in valve size after the procedure. Results: The most common indication for surgery was aortic stenosis (12, 92%), with the most common etiology being degenerative calcification (7, 54%). Congenital bicuspid or uni-cuspid valves were identified in 5 (38%) patients. The majority (10, 77%) of patients received a mechanical valve. This procedure was successfully performed in all 13 of the patients. Additionally, 13 of the 13 patients (100%) were upsized to a satisfactory valve size based on pre-operative echocardiography sizing. Conclusions: The modified Manouguian aortic enlargement technique can be safely and effectively used as an aortic enlargement procedure in a broad sample of patients.

Technique for Adaptation of Konno Aortoventriculoplasty in Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch

The patient-prosthesis mismatch has been reported as an important cause of adverse outcome following aortic valve replacement. The relief of patient-prosthesis mismatch generally requires a reoperation of comprehensive nature, which necessitates an extensive aortic root enlargement. The Konno aortoventriculoplasty represents an efficient treatment option, as this technique provides both extreme root enlargement and relief of the frequently associated subvalvular obstruction. However, the application and conduct of the procedure may somewhat differ from the pediatric Konno procedures.This article describes our surgical technique adaptation in Konno-aortoventriculoplasty for adult patient-prosthesis mismatch cases, highlighting the differing points from the pediatric-Konno.

Racial and ethnic differences in response to treatment for Marfan syndrome

Objective: To determine whether racial/ethnic differences exist for the treatment of Marfan syndrome aortopathy. The 2014 Pediatric Heart Network randomised trial of losartan versus atenolol in Marfan syndrome paediatric and young adult patients showed no treatment differences in the rate of aortic root growth over 3 years; however, they did not examine racial/ethnic differences, and recent data suggest that angiotensin receptor blockers may have different pharmacologic effects in different racial/ethnic populations. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of public-use data from the Pediatric Heart Network randomised trial comparing the differences by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic patients) amongst the treatment groups for the primary outcome of rate of aortic root enlargement by z score and secondary outcome of rate of change of absolute diameter of aortic root, z score and absolute diameter of ascending aorta, and blood pressure changes. Results: For aortic root enlargement by z score amongst on-Hispanic White patients, patients on losartan exhibited an annual z score change of –0.090 ± 0.016, compared to –0.146 ± 0.015 for those on atenolol (p = 0.01), favouring atenolol. For Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients, there was no difference in primary or secondary outcomes between treatment groups. Conclusion: Non-Hispanic White patients had a small, but statistically significantly greater decrease in aortic root z score favouring atenolol over losartan. There were no significant differences amongst Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black patients, which may be due to relatively small size numbers. These findings may have important implications for medication selection by race/ethnicity in Marfan syndrome patients, which has not previously been evaluated in studies.

Aortic Root Enlargement in Patients With Small Aortic Annulus Undergoing Double Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study

Background: Small aortic annulus (AA) is a big issue during aortic valve replacement (AVR), necessitating replacement of an undersized prosthetic valve especially with double valve replacement (DVR). Despite the fact that small aortic valve prostheses can lead to prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM), there remains reluctance to perform aortic root enlargement (ARE) procedures, fearing morbidity and mortality. Objective: To evaluate clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with small aortic annulus (<18 mm) undergoing double valve replacement. Methods: The study included 100 consecutive patients who underwent DVR for combined rheumatic aortic and mitral valve diseases, between January 2016 and September 2020. Only 50 patients had ARE with DVR. ARE was performed using an autologous or bovine pericardium or Dacron patch by Nick's or Manouguian procedures. The estimated postoperative endpoints were mortality, effective orifice areas (EOA), mean aortic pressure gradient (PG), and valve-related complications. The shortest postoperative follow-up period was 6 months. Results: The study included 30 male and 70 female patients with mean age of 35±20 years, body surface area (BSA) of 1.7 ± 0.3 m2, aortic annulus diameter was 1.4 ± 0.4 mm, aortic orifice area was 0.8 ± 0.1 cm2, and mean pressure gradient 85 ± 2.5 mmHg. During the follow-up period, there was a mild to moderate paravalvular leak (1%) with 1% heart block and residual gradient on prosthetic aortic valve; this was all in DVR alone. Conclusion: Enlargement of the aortic root by Nick's or Manouguian technique is safe and effective in patients with small aortic annulus undergoing double valve replacements.

Analysis of various techniques of aortic root enlargement

Prosthesis-patient mismatch after aortic valve replacement is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A myriad of techniques have been described for aortic root enlargement to circumvent this problem. We review the salient techniques with their merits, demerits, and results.