Valve-sparing aortic root surgery in children and adults with congenital heart disease

Valve-sparing root replacement in children with connective tissue disease: Long-term risk of aortic events

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular involvement in pediatric patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) is life-threatening, with aortic root dilatation being the most prevalent cardiovascular abnormality. We attempted to determine long-term outcomes of valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) in this group, including cardiovascular reoperations for aortic aneurysm and dissection.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with CTD who received VSRR in a single center from 2002 to 2021. The primary end point was a composite event of all-cause death and cardiovascular reoperations. The median follow-up duration was 8.3 years, with a maximum of 20.7 years.

RESULTS

The median age of 24 pediatric patients who had VSRR was 14.4 years. Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome affected 19 (79.2%) and 5 (20.8%) patients, respectively. There was no early death. The 15-year survival rate was 91.7%. At 10 years after VSRR, the cumulative incidence of reoperation for aortic regurgitation was 15.6%, and for aortic aneurysm or dissection, it was 29.1%. The 10-year rate of freedom from the primary end point was 53.1%. The Cox multivariable analysis revealed younger age at surgery (hazard ratio, 1.279; 95% confidence interval, 1.086-1.505; P = .003) and VSRR before 13 years of age (hazard ratio, 5.005; 95% confidence interval, 1.146-21.850; P = .032) as independent prognostic factors for the primary endpoint.

CONCLUSIONS

VSRR for aortic root dilatation in pediatric patients with CTD demonstrated good long-term survival and low reoperation rates for aortic regurgitation. However, several patients developed later aortic aneurysm or dissection, and careful surveillance may be required, particularly in those who received VSRR at younger age.

Persistent neo-aortic root dilatation and aortic valve insufficiency after arterial switch operation following prior pulmonary artery banding

Although there have been great improvements in the short- and medium-term outcomes of the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), some complications including pulmonary artery stenosis, aortic valve insufficiency, and aortic root dilatation have also been reported. After ASO, the original pulmonary root and valve, which function in the systemic position as the neo-aortic root and valve respectively, are exposed to the systemic blood pressure, resulting in aortic root dilatation and valve insufficiency in some patients. One of the risk factors for these complications is a history of prior pulmonary artery banding (PAB). Complex TGA anatomy, including transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect (TGA-VSD) or double outlet right ventricle and ventricular septal defect (DORV-VSD), is also an independent risk factor for neo-aortic dilatation and aortic valve regurgitation. Aortic valve and root replacement is sometime necessary for the patients with these pathologies long-term after ASO. Here, we present a patient who had persistent aortic sinus dilatation and aortic valve insufficiency since ASO and necessitating aortic root and valve replacement 15 years after ASO preceded by PAB. The patient underwent Bentall operation and his clinical course was favorable. Histological findings after root replacement revealed no remarkable structural difference between neo-aortic wall (originally pulmonary artery) and original aortic wall.

Congenital Aortic Valve Repair When the Options aren't Good: Truncus Arteriosus and Transposition of the Great Arteries

Patients with truncus arteriosus and transposition of great arteries are prone to neo-aortic valve insufficiency. Although presenting at opposite ends of the age spectrum, both conditions tend to be commonly associated with neo aortic root dilatation. In patients with truncus arteriosus there is an additional complexity of quadricuspid valve morphology, which make up the majority of valves requiring repair. A unified approach to all these patients would include reduction and stabilization of the annulus and sinotubular junction, as well as achieving equal and symmetrical coaptation of the valve leaflets. By systematically employing these techniques, valve replacement should be avoidable in most children.