Transesophageal echocardiography follow-up of patients undergoing replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with a Cabrol procedure for chronic aneurysm and dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography to detect complications after a Cabrol procedure. METHODS: A total of 28 unselected patients (mean age 52.2 +/- 13.3 years; 86% male) who survived a Cabrol procedure were examined with transesophageal echocardiography at a mean of 64 +/- 32 postoperative months. Underlying diagnosis was Stanford type A dissection in 11% of the patients and nondissecting aneurysm in 89%. RESULTS: Periprosthetic jet as a result of a valve leakage was demonstrated in 3 patients (11%). In 1 patient (4%) with infected aortic graft, a fistula between the periprosthetic space and the right ventricle was detected, requiring reoperation. One patient (4%) showed a complete occlusion of the graft limb of the right coronary artery but did not need reoperation. An aneurysm of the periprosthetic space with perivalvular leakage and persistence of periprosthetic right atrial fistula was visualized in 3 patients (11%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings encourage the use of transesophageal echocardiography for the follow-up of patients undergoing a Cabrol operation.