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Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:1617-1622
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original Articles

Cryopreserved aortic allografts for aortic root reconstruction: a single institution’s experience

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
^b Department of Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands

Accepted for publication December 12, 1998.

Address reprint requests to Dr Dossche, Dept of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Koekoekslaan 1, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, the Netherlands

Background. An evaluation of early and long-term results of aortic root replacement with cryopreserved aortic allografts and echocardiographic follow-up of allograft valve function was performed.

Methods. From September 1989 through May 1998, 132 patients aged 17 to 77 years (mean, 50.8 ± 14.8 years) underwent freestanding aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. Eighty-six (65.1%) patients had New York Heart Association class III or IV functional status before operation, and 27 (20.5%) patients underwent emergency operation. Fifty-nine (44.7%) patients had undergone previous cardiac operations. The cause of aortic disease was acute endocarditis in 63 (47.7%) patients, healed endocarditis in 15 (11.3%), degenerative in 20 (15.2%), congenital in 20 (15.2%), failed prosthesis in 10 (7.6%) and rheumatic in 4 (3.0%). Follow-up was complete, with a mean of 42 months.

Results. There were 12 hospital deaths (9.1%; 70% confidence limits [CL], 6.6% and 11.6%); 9 of them were operated on for active endocarditis (p = 0.062). Multivariate analysis determined age older than 65 years (p = 0.012) and emergency operation (p = 0.009) as independent risk factors for hospital mortality. During follow-up, 6 (5.0%; 70% CL, 3.0% and 7.0%) patients died. Cumulative survival rate for the entire group was 81.8% ± 5.4% at 8 years. Freedom from reoperation for structural valve failure was 100%, freedom from reoperation for any cause was 96.3% ± 1.8% at 8 years. Freedom from endocarditis at 8 years was 97.9% ± 1.4%. Follow-up of allograft valve function showed no or trivial aortic regurgitation in 97% of patients and absence of stenosis of the allograft in 100%.

Conclusions. Aortic root replacement with cryopreserved aortic allografts can be performed with acceptable hospital mortality and long-term results. The durability of cryopreserved aortic allografts is good, and reoperation for structural valve failure is absent at 8 years.

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