TY - JOUR
T1 - The atherosclerotic aorta at aortic valve replacement
T2 - Surgical strategies and results
AU - Gillinov, A. Marc
AU - Lytle, Bruce W.
AU - Hoang, Vu
AU - Cosgrove, Delos M.
AU - Banbury, Michael K.
AU - McCarthy, Patrick M.
AU - Sabik, Joseph F.
AU - Pettersson, Gösta B.
AU - Smedira, Nicholas G.
AU - Blackstone, Eugene H.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Background: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta poses technical challenges. The purpose of this study was to examine operative strategies and results of aortic valve replacement in patients with a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta that could not be safely crossclamped. Patients and methods: From January 1990 to December 1998, 4983 patients had aortic valve surgery; of these, 62 (1.2%) patients had a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta and required hypothermic circulatory arrest to facilitate aortic valve replacement. They form the study group. Results: All patients had hypothermic circulatory arrest, but several different strategies were used to manage the ascending aorta. These techniques included aortic valve replacement with the use of hypothermic circulatory arrest (39%), ascending aortic endarterectomy (26%), ascending aortic replacement (19%), aortic inspection and crossclamping during hypothermic circulatory arrest (10%), and balloon occlusion of the ascending aorta (6%). Duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest was substantially longer for patients having aortic valve replacement with hypothermic circulatory arrest than for all other strategies. Hospital mortality was 14%, and 10% of patients had strokes. Increasing New York Heart Association functional class and impaired left ventricular function were risk factors for hospital mortality. Choice of operative technique did not influence patient outcome; however, no patient who underwent replacement of the ascending aorta had a stroke. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta is associated with increased operative morbidity and mortality. Complete aortic valve replacement during hypothermic circulatory arrest, the 'no-touch' technique, requires a prolonged period of circulatory arrest. Ascending aortic replacement is a preferred technique, as it requires a short period of hypothermic circulatory arrest and results in comparable mortality with a low risk of stroke.
AB - Background: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta poses technical challenges. The purpose of this study was to examine operative strategies and results of aortic valve replacement in patients with a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta that could not be safely crossclamped. Patients and methods: From January 1990 to December 1998, 4983 patients had aortic valve surgery; of these, 62 (1.2%) patients had a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta and required hypothermic circulatory arrest to facilitate aortic valve replacement. They form the study group. Results: All patients had hypothermic circulatory arrest, but several different strategies were used to manage the ascending aorta. These techniques included aortic valve replacement with the use of hypothermic circulatory arrest (39%), ascending aortic endarterectomy (26%), ascending aortic replacement (19%), aortic inspection and crossclamping during hypothermic circulatory arrest (10%), and balloon occlusion of the ascending aorta (6%). Duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest was substantially longer for patients having aortic valve replacement with hypothermic circulatory arrest than for all other strategies. Hospital mortality was 14%, and 10% of patients had strokes. Increasing New York Heart Association functional class and impaired left ventricular function were risk factors for hospital mortality. Choice of operative technique did not influence patient outcome; however, no patient who underwent replacement of the ascending aorta had a stroke. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta is associated with increased operative morbidity and mortality. Complete aortic valve replacement during hypothermic circulatory arrest, the 'no-touch' technique, requires a prolonged period of circulatory arrest. Ascending aortic replacement is a preferred technique, as it requires a short period of hypothermic circulatory arrest and results in comparable mortality with a low risk of stroke.
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U2 - 10.1067/mtc.2000.110191
DO - 10.1067/mtc.2000.110191
M3 - Article
C2 - 11044322
AN - SCOPUS:0033736196
SN - 0022-5223
VL - 120
SP - 957
EP - 965
JO - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
IS - 5
ER -