Valve-Sparing Root Replacement Surgery for the Truncal Valve in an Adult: Report of the Initial Successful Case

Louis J, Raghuveer G, Kochilas L. Outcomes Following Aortic Valve Replacement in Children With Conotruncal Anomalies

OBJECTIVE

Conotruncal anomalies can develop aortopathy and/or aortic valve (AV) disease and AV replacement (AVR) is occasionally needed. We report long-term results and examine factors affecting survival following AVR in this group.

METHODS

We queried the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium (PCCC, US database for interventions for congenital heart diseases) to identify patients with repaired conotruncal anomalies and AVR. Long-term outcomes were provided by the PCCC, the US National Death Index, and Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Competing risks analysis examined outcomes following AVR (death/transplantation, reoperation) and multivariable regression analysis assessed significant factors.

RESULTS

One hundred six children with repaired conotruncal anomalies underwent AVR (1982-2003). Underlying anomaly was truncus (n = 40), d-transposition (n = 22), type-B interrupted arch (n = 16), double-outlet right ventricle (n = 12), pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n = 9), tetralogy of Fallot (n = 6), corrected transposition (n = 1). 18 (17%) had prior aortic valvuloplasty (surgical = 12, percutaneous = 6). Median age at AVR was 6.9 years (interquartile range = 2.5-12.4). AV pathophysiology was regurgitation (n = 83, 78%), stenosis (n = 9, 9%), and mixed (n = 14, 15%). AVR type was mechanical (n = 72, 68%), homograft (n = 21, 20%), and Ross (n = 13, 12%). Operative mortality was 13(12%). Infant age at AVR was risk factor (odds ratio = 55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6-539, P = .0006). On competing risks analysis, five years after AVR, 6% died or received transplantation, 20% had reoperation. Twenty-five years transplant-free survival was 53%. Factors associated with death after hospital discharge included mitral surgery (hazards ratio [HR] = 11, 95% CI = 3-39, P = .0002), underlying defect (HR = 2, 95% CI = 1-5, P = .446). Twenty years transplant-free survival in conotruncal anomalies group was inferior to matched children undergoing AVR for congenital non-conotruncal disease (61% vs 82%, P = .0012).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival following AVR in children with conotruncal anomalies is inferior to that of isolated congenital AV disease and is linked to an underlying cardiac defect. Although valve type was not associated with survival, infant age was a risk factor for operative mortality. Continuous attrition and high reoperation warrant vigilant monitoring.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement in adult patients with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVES

Aortic root dilatation is frequently observed in patients with congenital heart defects (CHD), but has received little attention in terms of developing a best practice approach for treatment. In this study, we analysed our experience with aortic valve-sparing root replacement in patients following previous operations to repair CHD.

METHODS

In this study, we included 7 patients with a history of previous surgery for CHD who underwent aortic valve-sparing operations. The underlying initial defects were tetralogy of Fallot (n = 3), transposition of great arteries (n = 2), coarctation of the aorta (n = 1), and pulmonary atresia with ventricle septum defect (n = 1). The patients' age ranged from 20 to 40 years (mean age 31 ± 6 years).

RESULTS

David reimplantation was performed in 6 patients and a Yacoub remodelling procedure was performed in 1 patient. Four patients underwent simultaneous pulmonary valve replacement. The mean interval between the corrective procedure for CHD and the aortic valve-sparing surgery was 26 ± 3 years. There was no operative or late mortality. The patient with transposition of great arteries following an arterial switch operation was re-operated 25 months after the valve-sparing procedure due to severe aortic regurgitation. In all other patients, the aortic valve regurgitation was mild or negligible at the latest follow-up (mean 8.7 years, range 2.1-15.1 years).

CONCLUSIONS

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement resulted in good aortic valve function during the first decade of observation in 6 of 7 patients. This approach can offer a viable alternative to root replacement with mechanical or biological prostheses in selected patients following CHD repair.