Aortic root reconstruction using new vascular graft.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the new vascular graft for aortic root reconstruction using two different surgical techniques and to evaluate the intermediate clinical and functional results. Between January 2006 and December 2007, a total of 79 patients with aortic root and valve pathologies (chronic aneurysm 70, acute aortic dissection 9) underwent valve-sparing aortic root repair at our facility. Moderate to severe (3+) or severe (4+) aortic regurgitation was present in 19 (24%) and 7 (9%) patients, respectively. A new vascular aortic root graft was used in all patients. The 30-day mortality was zero. The aortic valve had to be replaced before discharge due to recurrent insufficiency in one patient. In all remaining patients, the postoperative echocardiography at discharge showed no, trivial, or mild insufficiency in 61, 15 and two patients, respectively. During the follow-up time, which was completed for all patients and averaged for repair survivors 15+/-7 (range, 6-29 months), these echocardiographic findings remained unchanged. The new vascular aortic root graft is feasible for aortic root reconstruction using both reimplantation technique and single patch remodeling technique. It provides very good surgical handling and leads to excellent early and intermediate functional results.