Aortic root remodeling

Aortic root remodeling was originally designed in the late 1980’s to treat patients with tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs), aortic regurgitation (AR), and root aneurysm to normalize root dimensions. The late results showed a relevant proportion of patients who required reoperation for recurrent AR. Later observations revealed that cusp prolapse is frequently present after correction of root dilatation. We showed that such prolapse could be detected by measuring effective height (eH) and corrected by concomitant cusp repair. In the past 13 years, we have added a suture annuloplasty to improve aortic valve function further. The operation starts with ascertaining adequate cusp size by measuring geometric cusp height. The dilated aortic wall is resected, and a Dacron graft is tailored to create three tongues. These tongues are sutured to the cusp insertion lines. Starting the suture in the nadir allows for easy extension of tongue length to avoid commissural height restriction. A suture annuloplasty is added at nadir level and tied around a Hegar dilator to normalize annular diameter. The valve is assessed visually and by measuring eH. Cusp prolapse (eH <9 mm) is frequent and corrected by free margin plication until all free margins are at equal level and eH is 9 mm. We have employed root remodeling in more than 710 instances of root aneurysm and TAVs. Mean myocardial ischemic time has been 65±13 minutes for isolated remodeling, operative mortality has been 1.5% for elective procedures. With suture annuloplasty, 10-year freedom from reoperation is 95%, even without suture annuloplasty 20-year freedom from reoperation is 85%. In our experience, root remodeling has been a valid form of valve-preserving surgery with low morbidity and mortality and excellent long-term results.