Aortic Valve-Sparing Operations

Treatment options for isolated aortic valve insufficiency: a review

Aortic insufficiency (AI) is a valvular disease with increasing prevalence in older patients. The modern era provides numerous options for the management of AI which is explored here. Traditional interventions included aortic valve replacement with either mechanical or bioprosthetic aortic valves. While the former is known for its durability, it has grown out of favor due to the potential complications of anticoagulation. The preference for bioprosthetic valves is thus on the rise, especially with the advancements of transcatheter technology and the use of valve-in-valve therapy. Surgical options are also no longer limited to replacement but include complex techniques such as those required for aortic valve repair, Ozaki neocuspidization, Ross procedure and valve-sparring aortic root repair. Transcatheter options for the management of AI are not commercially available currently; however, preliminary data from ad-hoc trials, showed promising results and potential use of transcatheter technology in a variety of patients with pure AI.

Segmental analysis of aortic basal ring dimensions in normal and dilated tricuspid aortic roots

OBJECTIVES

In patients with aortic root aneurysm, the aortic basal ring is frequently dilated. It has been speculated that the muscular part of the basal ring dilates most. The purpose of this study was to analyse the segmental dilatation of the basal ring, comparing normal and dilated roots in patients with tricuspid aortic valves.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of computed tomography studies in patients with normal and dilated aortic roots was performed. Lengths of segments of the basal ring corresponding to each of the 3 sinuses, and to the muscular and fibrous parts were measured. Fractions of these segments relative to the total basal ring perimeter were calculated.

RESULTS

We analysed 152 normal and 126 dilated aortic roots and 86 propensity-matched pairs. Basal ring dilatation was present in all segments of dilated aortic roots with subtle differences between the segments corresponding to the 3 sinuses. The muscular part of the basal ring dilated proportionately to its fibrous part, with no difference in fractions of measured muscular part in normal and dilated roots [42.2% (interquartile range 4.3%) vs 42.1% (interquartile range 6.3%)].

CONCLUSIONS

Basal ring dilatation was present in all segments corresponding to the 3 sinuses in dilated aortic roots. Both muscular and fibrous parts dilated equally, supporting the need to stabilize the entire basal ring when performing aortic valve repair surgery.