• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.188-198
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• 2002

Background: Reoperations on the aortic root or the ascending aorta are being performed with increasing frequency and remain a challenging problem. This study was performed to analyze the results of reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root. Material and Method: Between May 1995 and April 2001, 30 patients had reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root and were reviewed retrospectively. The mean interval between the previous repair and the actual reoperation was 56 months(range 3 to 142 months). Seven patients(23.3%) had two or more previous operations. The indications for reoperations were true aneurysm in 7 patients(23.3%), prosthetic valve endocarditis in 6(20%), false aneurysm in 5(16.7%), paravalvular leak associated with Behcet's disease in 4(13.3%), malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve in 4(13.3%), aortic dissection in 3(10%), and annuloaortic ectasia in 1(3.3%). The principal reoperations performed were aortic root replacement in 17 patients(56.7%), replacement of the ascending aorta in 8(26.7%), aortic and mitral valve replacement with reconstruction of fibrous trigone in 2(6.6%), patch aortoplasty in 2(6.6%), and aortic valve replacement after Bentall operation in 1 (3.3%). The cardiopulmonary bypass was started before sternotomy in 7 patients and the hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 16(53.3%). The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 20$\pm$ 12 minutes, 228$\pm$56 minutes, and 143$\pm$62 minutes, respectively Result: There were three early deaths(10%). The postoperative complications were reoperation for bleeding in 7 patients(23.3%), cardiac complications in 5(16.7%), transient acute renal failure in 2(6.6%), transient focal seizure in 2(6.6%), and the others in 5. The mean follow-up was 22.8 $\pm$20.5 months. There were two late deaths(7.4%). The actuarial survival was 92.6$\pm$5.0% at 6 years. One patient required reoperation for complication of reoperation on the ascending aorta and aortic root(3.7%). The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 100% and 83.3$\pm$15.2%, respectively. One patient with Behcet's disease are waiting for reoperation due to false aneurysm, which developed after aortic root replacement with homograft. There were no thromboembolisms or anticoagulant related complications. Conclusions: This study suggests that reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root can be performed with acceptable early mortality and morbidity, and adequate surgical strategies according to the pathologi conditions are critical to the prevention of the reoperation.