Clinical study of aortic root replacement

From 1990 to 1999, 19 patients underwent aortic root replacement. Annulo-aortic ectasia was observed in 14 patients, aortic dissection in 4, and aortitis in 1. Mean aortic cross-clamp times and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 163 +/- 44 and 247 +/- 99 min, respectively. Concomitant procedures were coronary artery bypass grafting in 3 patients, aortic arch replacement in 1 and aortic arch replacement and elephant trunk method in 2. There were two hospital deaths due to cardiac failure. There was one late death because of pharyngeal cancer 1.7 years after the operation. Seventeen survivors were followed for a mean duration of 4.4 years (0.6-9.3 years). There were no complications during this period. In conclusion, good results were obtained by modified Bentall operation.