Aortic valve leaflet sparing and salvage surgery: evolution of techniques for aortic root reconstruction

Over the past 20 years, a series of procedures have been designed to reconstruct the aortic root of patients with aortic insufficiency, in whom the pathology and hence the surgery spares the valve leaflets. Such techniques have various names. Usually ‘valve sparing’ is used in context with chronic aortic dissection or aortic root aneurysm as in patients with Marfan's syndrome. ‘Aortic valve salvage’ tends to be the term of choice for similar surgical reconstruction in the setting of aortic dissection. ‘Aortic valve repair’ is often chosen when direct surgical procedures are performed on the leaflets themselves. All of the techniques have evolved based upon an increased understanding of the functional anatomy of the aortic root complex. The different technical approaches, their applications and results need to be understood by the cardiology community. The failure modes for such techniques are specific and different from prosthetic valve failure modes, but are adequately followed with echocardiography. Over two-thirds of patients remain free of re-development of significant aortic insufficiency at 8–10 years following surgery. The overall patient survival is more dependent upon the underlying cardiovascular status of the patient than the surgical technique itself. Perioperative mortalities vary between 0 and 6% and are comparable to composite valve+graft techniques and isolated aortic valve replacement, in which the operative mortality approximates 3.3–4%. Long-term results are good to excellent and spare the patient anticoagulation and prosthetic valve disease.     

A lesional classification to standardize surgical management of aortic insufficiency towards valve repair

Objective: Aortic valve repair is an alternative to valve replacement for treatment of chronic aortic insufficiency (AI). In order to standardize surgical management, we suggest a classification based on echocardiographic and operative analysis of valvular lesions. Methods: Classification was based on the retrospective analysis of chronic AI mechanisms of 781 adults operated on electively between 1997 and 2003. Results: AI was isolated (406 patients (52%)), associated with supra-coronary aneurysm (97 cases (12.4%)), or with aortic root aneurysm (278 patients (35.6%)). Etiologies of valvular or aortic lesions were respectively rheumatic, dystrophic and atheromatous in 17%, 73.6% and 9.4% of cases. Lesional classification is based on the analysis of chronic AI mechanisms defining type I with central jet (354 cases, 45.3%) and type II with eccentric jet (54.7%). Type Ia is defined as isolated dilation of sino-tubular junction (47 supra-coronary aneurysms), and type Ib as dilation of both sino-tubular junction and aortic annular base (233 root aneurysms, 74 isolated AI). The type II associates dilation of sino-tubular junction and annular base to a valvular lesion: IIa cusp prolapse (95 aneurysms, 200 isolated AI); IIb cusp retraction (132 rheumatic AI), IIc cusp tear (endocarditis, traumatic). Conclusion: A lesional classification aims to standardize the surgical management of aortic valve repair: type Ia, by supra-coronary graft; type Ib, by subvalvular aortic annuloplasty associated with the aortic root replacement with a remodelling technique (root aneurysm) or double sub- and supravalvular annuloplasty (isolated AI). For chronic AI type II, aortic annuloplasty associated a remodelling technique or double sub- and supravalvular annuloplasty is combined with the treatment of the cusp lesion (cusp resuspension, cusp reconstruction with autologous pericardium).     

Aortic valve neocuspidization for aortic regurgitation associated with ventricular septal defect

 Open in a separate windowOBJECTIVESDifferent methods of aortic valve repair have been described in the literature for aortic regurgitation (AR) associated with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects. Our goal was to present our experience with aortic valve reconstruction of a single leaflet using the aortic valve neocuspidization technique in this subset of patients.METHODSIt is a retrospective review of 7 patients with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects with significant (>moderate) AR who underwent the single-leaflet neocuspidization technique of aortic valve reconstruction from January 2016 to January 2019. Data were collected from medical records. All patients had thorough 2-dimensional echocardiographic assessment preoperatively and during the follow-up period. Primary end points were freedom from postoperative AR and freedom from reoperation and all-cause mortality within the follow-up period with secondary end points of freedom from thromboembolism and infective endocarditis.RESULTSOut of 7 patients, 6 were male and 1 was female. There were no perioperative deaths. The mean follow-up period was 2.6 ± 0.8 years. No deaths occurred during the follow-up period. At the latest follow-up examination, only 2 patients showed mild AR and were asymptomatic. There was no documented event of infective endocarditis or thromboembolism during the follow-up period.CONCLUSIONSThe aortic leaflet neocuspidization procedure for the aortic valve is a relatively new concept. Availability of a template makes it an easily reproducible valve repair in paediatric patients with a single-leaflet abnormality. This technique preserves the remaining 2 normal leaflets, thus promoting the growth potential while maintaining near normal aortic root complex dynamics.     

主动脉瓣关闭不全合并巨大左心室麻醉的处理

目的 总结既往主动脉瓣关闭不全合并巨大左心室的麻醉经验.方法 术前30 min肌注吗啡10 mg,东莨菪碱0.3 mg.根据患者反应和血流动力学变化,静脉给予依托咪酯0.1～0.2mg/kg,舒芬太尼1μg/kg,哌库溴铵0.1 mg/kg分次给药,缓慢诱导经口明视插管.根据血气结果调整呼吸参数,维持术中血气在正常范围.吸入1.0%～1.5%异氟醚,间断静脉注射舒芬太尼和哌库溴铵维持麻醉.连续监测心电图、有创血压、脉搏血氧饱和度、呼吸末二氧化碳分压、中心静脉压、体温.结果 术后均无室颤及其他恶性心律失常发生,均康复出院.结论 术前处理重点保证足够的前负荷,维持较快的心率,适度减轻后负荷,适度强心.术后处理重点保证足够的前负荷,早期继续使用多巴胺等正性肌力药物进行辅助,使用硝酸甘油扩张冠脉.     

Use of the pericardial cord as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring associated with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

We report the case of a 61-year-old man with prosthetic valve endocarditis after both aortic valve replacement and mitral annuloplasty. Necrotic tissue and dehiscence of the suture line in the aortic annulus were found, and the infection extended to the anterior portion of the mitral prosthetic ring. The autologous pericardial cord was used as a substitute for the infected mitral prosthetic ring, and aortic root replacement was performed with a stentless bioprosthesis. The autologous pericardial cord was useful as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring.     

David Ⅰ手术治疗主动脉根部病变致主动脉瓣关闭不全的效果

目的 评价David Ⅰ术式治疗主动脉根部病变导致主动脉瓣关闭不全的治疗效果.方法 2005年8月至2011年5月,采用David Ⅰ手术治疗24例主动脉根部病变导致主动脉瓣关闭不全患者.男21例,女3例;年龄24 ～ 69岁,平均(47.0±12.3)岁.主动脉夹层13例,主动脉根部瘤7例,马方综合征2例,单纯主动脉瓣环扩张并主动脉瓣关闭不全2例.术前心功能Ⅰ级20例,Ⅱ级3例,Ⅲ级1例;主动脉瓣反流中度13例,重度11例.David Ⅰ手术采用直人工血管9例,带Valsalva窦人工血管15例.同期行冠状动脉旁路移植手术6例,主动脉弓置换11例,室间隔缺损修补术1例,房间隔缺损修补术1例,二尖瓣成形+三尖瓣成形1例.1例术中食管超声提示主动脉瓣大量反流,瓣叶脱垂,即刻决定使用带瓣人工血管行Bentall手术.术后观察患者心功能和主动脉瓣反流情况.结果 围术期死亡2例,分别于术后第9天死于感染性休克并多脏器功能衰竭和术后第22天死于肺部感染;近期死亡1例,术后第54天死于肺部感染.本组体外循环(235.9±58.5) min,主动脉阻断(182.7±35.8) min.术后1周超声心动图复查,主动脉瓣无反流11例,轻度反流11例,轻至中度反流1例;所有患者心功能均为Ⅰ级.术后20例(不包括3例死亡和1例行Bentall术者)随访3～74个月.主动脉瓣无反流3例;轻度反流15例,其中3例半年后再次复查提示主动脉瓣无反流;中度反流2例,其中1例3个月后复查提示反流转为轻度,1例采用直人工血管的马方综合征患者术后55个月复查提示反流转为重度.结论 保留主动脉瓣的主动脉根部再植入术(David Ⅰ术式)是治疗主动脉瓣叶及瓣环结构大致正常的主动脉根部病变引起的主动脉瓣关闭不全的一种理想手术方式,同时应用带Valsalva窦血管能提供更稳定的手术效果.     

升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的总结21例升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全的外科治疗经验。方法19例行Bentall手术,2例行Cabrol手术;5例同时置换二尖瓣。术前心功能IV级15例,III级6例。动脉瘤直径6～11 cm,平均(8.5±2.6) cm;17例主动脉内膜有撕裂,其中5例升主动脉远端仍有夹层。主动脉瓣环直径2.7～5.4 cm,平均(3.2±1.8）cm。超声心动图检查均示主动脉瓣严重关闭不全。结果手术后无早、晚期死亡,术后超声心动图和造影检查示主动脉瓣关闭良好,移植的冠状动脉通畅、无扭曲,效果满意。结论动脉瘤直径大于6 cm时应及时随访和做预防性手术,一旦发现夹层动脉瘤应立即手术,Bentall手术治疗升主动脉瘤效果良好。     

A case of tuberculous endocarditis with acute aortic valve insufficiency and annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm

Tuberculous endocarditis is an exceptionally rare disease, and its surgical operation has been reported in only one case. This is a successful surgical report of acute aortic insufficiency caused by tuberculous endocarditis associated with annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm (ASLVA) beneath the aortic valve. This patient had acute left ventricular failure and cardiorespiratory arrest and suffered from multiple organ dysfunction and coagulopathy disorder. Urgent surgery was performed to replace the aortic valve with the approximation of ASLVA. Histopathological findings of the excised aortic cusps gave the diagnosis of tuberculous endocarditis, and antituberculous drug administration started on the first postoperative day. Postoperative recovery has been uneventful without relapse of tuberculosis for 7 postoperative years.     

Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve despite the sliding leaflet technique for repair of the mitral valve

We report a systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet despite employing the sliding leaflet technique for repair of mitral valve regurgitation. A 65-year-old man with chronic, symptomatic mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae underwent mitral valve repair by quadrangular resection of the posterior leaflet and sliding leaflet technique with ring annuloplasty. After weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, left ventricular outflow obstruction developed and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation. Non-operative treatment resolved the outflow tract obstruction, systolic anterior motion and mitral regurgitation. We conclude that post-repair systolic anterior motion can still occur after the sliding plasty procedure and that medical treatment can successfully resolve systolic anterior motion and outflow tract obstruction in most patients.     

Early and late results of mitral valve repair with anterior leaflet patch augmentation

OBJECTIVESThe aim of this study was to determine the long-term results of mitral valve (MV) repair with anterior leaflet patch augmentation.Open in a separate windowMETHODSBetween 2012 and 2015, 45 patients underwent MV repair using the anterior leaflet patch augmentation technique at our institution. The mean age of the patients was 65.9 ± 13.0 years (16 males). We reviewed the MV pathology and the surgical techniques used and assessed the early and late results.RESULTSIn terms of MV pathology, 43 patients (95.6%) had pure mitral regurgitation (MR) and 2 patients (4.4%) had mixed mitral stenosis and MR. Rheumatic changes were seen in 18 patients (40.0%). Postoperative echocardiography showed that 95.6% of patients had none to mild MR. During a median follow-up period of 5.5 years (range 0.1–8.3 years), there were 8 late deaths. Nine patients (20%) required reoperation. The mean interval between the initial operation and redo operation was 3.7 ± 3.1 years (range: 0.4–7.8 years). The causes of reoperation included patch dehiscence (n = 4), progression of mitral stenosis (n = 2), band dehiscence (n = 1), patch enlargement (n = 1) and unknown (n = 1). Eight patients underwent MV replacement and 1 underwent repeat MV repair. The freedom from reoperation at 3 and 5 years was 85.7 ± 6.7% and 81.2 ± 7.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSAnterior leaflet patch augmentation can provide excellent early results in the majority of the patients even in the presence of rheumatic pathology; however, we observed late reoperation in 20% of patients. Thus, this technique should be used with caution and careful follow-up with serial echocardiography is essential.     

Virtual reality-guided aortic valve leaflet reconstruction for type 0 bicuspid aortic stenosis

Although virtual reality (VR) techniques that enable visualizing a patient’s anatomy stereoscopically have been developed recently, these techniques are still scarcely used in clinical settings, and their benefits remain uncertain. Herein, we demonstrate how VR preoperative planning facilitated the efficiency of a complex surgical procedure. A 53-year-old male was diagnosed as type 0 bicuspid aortic stenosis. To take haemodynamical advantage and to lower valve-related reoperation risks, an aortic valve reconstruction was scheduled; however, anatomical tri-leaflet neocuspidalization for type 0 bicuspid aortic root is particularly challenging. To optimize the procedure, VR preoperative planning was applied to create a blueprint of the aortic root rearrangement and suture line design. This allowed for a competent aortic valve to be reconstructed speedily, resulting in an excellent postoperative course.     

主动脉瓣关闭不全合并巨大左心室麻醉的处理

Objective To retrospectively review the experience of anesthesia for aortic valve insufficiency complicated with extremely dilated left ventricle.Methods The patients were premedieated with morphine 10 mg and scopolamine 0.3 mg IM.Anesthesia was induced with etomidate 0.1-0.2 ms/ks.sufentanil 1μ/kg and pipecuronium 0.1 mg/kg.After the patients were intubated,anesthesia wag maintained beween 1.0%and 1.5% isoflurane and intermittent Ⅳ boluses of sufentanil and pipecuronium.ECG,direct BP,SpO2,PET CO2,CVP and body temperature were monitored during anesthesia.Result All patients Were rehabilitated without ventricular fibrillation and arrhythmia.Conlusions Measures are taken before the surgery to maintain preload,increase heart rate,reduce afterload moderately and maintain myocardial contractility.After the surgery,maintenance of preload is helpful for ensuring adequate forward flow and benefcial to patients using dopamine and nitrolycerin.     

主动脉瓣关闭不全合并巨大左心室麻醉的处理

Objective To retrospectively review the experience of anesthesia for aortic valve insufficiency complicated with extremely dilated left ventricle.Methods The patients were premedieated with morphine 10 mg and scopolamine 0.3 mg IM.Anesthesia was induced with etomidate 0.1-0.2 ms/ks.sufentanil 1μ/kg and pipecuronium 0.1 mg/kg.After the patients were intubated,anesthesia wag maintained beween 1.0%and 1.5% isoflurane and intermittent Ⅳ boluses of sufentanil and pipecuronium.ECG,direct BP,SpO2,PET CO2,CVP and body temperature were monitored during anesthesia.Result All patients Were rehabilitated without ventricular fibrillation and arrhythmia.Conlusions Measures are taken before the surgery to maintain preload,increase heart rate,reduce afterload moderately and maintain myocardial contractility.After the surgery,maintenance of preload is helpful for ensuring adequate forward flow and benefcial to patients using dopamine and nitrolycerin.     

Successful valve repair for congenital bicuspid aortic valve and degenerated prolapsed mitral valve

A 54-year-old man with congenital bicuspid aortic valve underwent simultaneous valve repair for aortic and mitral regurgitation. Surgical technique consisted of plication of redundant aortic valve repair and mitral annuloplasty with chordal replacement. One-year follow-up transthoracic echocardiography showed no valve regurgitation. Valve repair for both bicuspid aortic valve and mitral valve regurgitation should be the first option in this subset of patients.     

Coronary ostial stenosis after aortic valvuloplasty (comprehensive aortic root and valve repair)

Comprehensive aortic root and valve repair (CARVAR) surgery using specially designed aortic rings was introduced as a new surgical technique for aortic valve disease. We present five consecutive cases of iatrogenic coronary ostial stenosis after CARVAR surgery in patients with aortic stenosis. The preoperative coronary angiography confirmed that all the patients had normal coronary arteries. They underwent aortic valvuloplasty by aortic leaflet extension and insertion of specially designed inner and outer rings at the level of the sinotubular junction. Within 6 months after surgery, all the patients complained of resting chest pain and dyspnea with changes of electrocardiography. Repeated coronary angiography demonstrated right coronary artery (RCA) ostial stenosis in one patient and left main (LM) ostial stenosis in the other four patients. Intravascular ultrasonography demonstrated severe ostial stenosis and extensive echogenic tissue in the extravascular area. Four patients with LM ostial disease successfully underwent coronary bypass graft surgery, and percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting was performed in one case of RCA ostial stenosis. Because the mechanism of this complication is not fully confirmed, more clinical study is required to confirm the safety issues of CARVAR surgery.