Long-term results of Bentall composite aortic root replacement for ascending aortic aneurysms and dissections

• Published in: Chest Vol. 124; no. 3; p. 984
• Main Authors: Gelsomino, Sandro, Morocutti, Giorgio, Frassani, Romeo, Masullo, Gianluca, Da Col, Paolo, Spedicato, Leonardo, Livi, Ugolino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2003
• Subjects: Actuarial Analysis; Adult; Aged; Aneurysm, Dissecting - diagnostic imaging; Aneurysm, Dissecting - mortality; Aneurysm, Dissecting - surgery; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - mortality; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - surgery; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Coronary Vessels - surgery; Echocardiography; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Prosthesis Design; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.124.3.984

The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing aortic root replacement (ARR) with the Bentall procedure.
Retrospective study.
Cardiothoracic surgery unit.
Between January 1986 and January 2002, 72 patients (mean age 58.3 +/- 12.4 years, 81.9% males) underwent ARR by means of a Bentall operation. Annuloaortic ectasia was the most frequent cause of aortic disease in this series of patients (31 patients; 43.1%), followed by type A dissection (19 patients; 26.3%), atherosclerotic aneurysm (18 patients; 25.1%), and poststenotic dilatation (4 patients; 5.5%). Nine patients (12.5%) had Marfan syndrome, and 10 patients (13.8%) underwent a concomitant replacement of the aortic arch. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 192 months (mean [+/- SD], 86.6 +/- 23.8 months).
The mean 30-day mortality rate was 5.5 +/- 2%. The mean early mortality rate was 21 +/- 4% and 0% (p < 0.001), respectively, in patients with and without dissecting aortic aneurysms. There were two late deaths that were due to a pulmonary neoplasm and a cerebrovascular accident. The mean 16-year survival rate was 91.7 +/- 3.2%. The mean hazard of freedom from death was constant beyond 3 years (8.5 +/- 3.5%). No patient required reoperation. Furthermore, the long-term clinical follow-up was marked by a complete absence of endocarditis, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, valve thrombosis, and prosthesis failure. Finally, patients showed a significant improvement in mean New York Heart Association functional status (1.3 +/- 0.1; p < 0.001 [postoperatively vs preoperatively]).
In our experience, the late results of the Bentall operation were satisfactory. Our findings confirm that this technique still represents the procedure of choice for ARR with coronary reimplantation.