• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.413-416
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• 2022

A 32-year-old woman diagnosed with Turner syndrome presented to the hospital for an evaluation of cardiovascular complications. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography showed progression of aortic root and ascending aorta dilatation, as well as a bicuspid aortic valve. There was no evidence of aortic regurgitation. We planned valve-sparing aortic root replacement and ascending aorta replacement with a high risk of aortic rupture. Intraoperatively, we incidentally found a juxtacommissural origin of the right coronary artery (RCA). We performed aortic valve reimplantation using a graft designed with a key-shaped hole to wrap the juxtacommissural-origin RCA by modifying the Florida sleeve technique. Coronary blood flow was patent on postoperative CT angiography, and there was no evidence of aortic regurgitation on postoperative echocardiography. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 7 without any complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.395-398
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• 2018

Neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation is a serious late complication. To achieve successful surgical correction of this condition, multiple factors should be considered, including the individual patient's anatomy, the challenging nature of the redo procedure, and the patient's young age. However, limited publications have described the use of valve-sparing techniques for the treatment of neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation. Herein, we report our recent experience of a valve-sparing aortic root procedure with ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement despite the presence of a discrepancy in leaflet size and nearby severe adhesions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2015

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder that is characterized by aggressive arterial and aortic disease, often involving the formation of aortic aneurysms. We describe the cases of two children with LDS who were diagnosed with aortic root aneurysms and successfully treated by valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) with a Valsalva graft. VSRR is a safe and suitable operation for children that avoids prosthetic valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.489-492
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• 2016

The original valve-sparing procedures for aortic root aneurysms were remodeling and reimplantation of the aortic root. The remodeling technique provides more physiologic movement of the cusps within 3 reconstructed neo-sinuses, thus preserving root expansibility through the interleaflet triangles. However, the durability of remodeling has been a matter of concern due to the high rate of aortic insufficiency when annular dilation is not addressed. Therefore, a modified approach was developed, combining a physiologic remodeling of the root with a subvalvular annuloplasty. This case report highlights the first case of successful aortic root remodeling with external subvalvular ring annuloplasty in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.445-448
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• 2023

A 25-year-old man returned to Seoul National University Children's Hospital with mild dyspnea on exertion. He had undergone an arterial switch operation at 1 month after birth to correct a complete transposition of the great arteries and a ventricular septal defect. When the patient was 15 years old, dilatation of the neo-aortic sinus and annulus was first identified; since then, it had gradually increased. Given the young age of the patient and the degree of aortic regurgitation (AR), which was mild to moderate, we opted to perform a valve-sparing neo-aortic root replacement with aortic valve repair. Postoperative echocardiography showed successful reductions in the sizes of the aortic sinus and annulus, with only mild AR remaining.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.7 s.252
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• pp.483-488
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• 2005

Aortic valve-sparing procedures could reduce valve-related morbidity, but may increase operative risks; therefore, these procedures could not be performed routinely. We attempted to find out the early results while focusing on the operative risks associated with these procedures in our hospital. Material and Method: From May 1996 to July 2003, 26 patients underwent these procedures including 15 patients with Marfan syndrome and 1 patient with Behcet disease. There were 17 men and 9 women with mean age of $37.9\pm19.2$ years (range: 6 months-74 years). Ten patients had ascending aortic dissection, 18 patients had more than moderate degree of aortic valve insufficiency (AI). Two types of valve-sparing procedures were performed: valve reimplantation in 14 and root remodeling in 12 patients. Associated procedures were performed as follows: aortic valve plasty in 6, mitral valve plasty in 5, hemi-arch replacement in 4, total arch replacement in 2, coronary artery bypass surgery in 1 and Maze procedure in 1 patient(s). Result: In four patients, valve-sparing procedures were converted to Bentall procedures during operation. Including these patients, there was no operative deaths, 3 patients underwent re-operation due to bleeding, 1 patient had permanent pacemaker. The median duration of ICU stay was 45.5 hours, the median duration of hospital stay was 10.5 days. In 22 patients excluding 4 converted patients, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed less than mild degree of AI in all except one who had not received intra-operative TEE in the beginning and showed moderate degree of AI at discharge. The mean duration of follow-up was $21.2\pm27.4$ months. All patients were alive except one who died during other departmental surgery. In 3 patients, more than moderate degree of AI was recurred, but there were no reoperation. Conclusion: Aortic valve-sparing procedures could be performed relatively safely in selected patients who had annuloaortic ectasia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.376-379
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• 2019

Concomitant Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) and hematologic malignancies are exceptionally rare. This is the first report of a patient operated on for aortic root dilation who had been previously diagnosed with LDS and B-cell-lymphoma. After completion of chemotherapy and complete remission, an elective valve-sparing aortic root replacement (using the David-V method) was performed. Due to the positive family history, preoperative genetic counseling was conducted, and revealed LDS with a TGFBR1 (transforming growth factor beta receptor type I) mutation in 6 probands of the family, albeit in 1 of them posthumously. This missense mutation has been previously described in relation to aortic dissection, but a causative relationship to malignancy has so far neither been proposed nor proven.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1197-1204
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• 1997

Between April 1981 and June 1996, 65 patients had aortic root replacement at our institution. Disease entities were pure aortic annuloectasia in 31 patients(47.7%), Stanford type A aortic dissection with annuloectasia in 8(43.1%), atherosclerotic aneurysm with aortic regurgitation in 4(6.2%), and paravalvular leakage after aortic valve replacement in 2(3.1 %). 34 patients(52.3%) had the clinical stigmata of the Marfan syndrome. The operative procedures were Bentall operation in 61 patients(93.8%); 3 of conventional procedure and 58 of Cabrol's modification, aortic valve-sparing operation in 2(3.1 %), and root replacement with homograft in 2(3.1%). Hospital deaths occurred in 3 patients(4.8%) because of uncontrolled bleeding(1) and bypass weaning failure due to low cardiac output(2), and all had emergency operation with Cabrol's procedure. Postoperative complications developed in 19(29.2%) patients and most of them were transient. Surviving 62 patients have been followed up to cumulative total 315.0 patient-years(mean 60.2 $\pm$42.4 months). Late deaths occurred in 7 patients(11.3%), aneurysmal changes of remaining aorta were detected in 12 patients(19.4%). Actuarial survival rate at 10 years was 72.0 $\pm$ 9.7%, and the subsequent aortic operation-free rate at 10 years was 68.0$\pm$ 8.9% In a multivariate analysis, Marfan syndrome, emergency operation, preoperative dissection, combined arch replacement, and total circulatory arrest emerged as significant risk factors for hospital death or subsequent aortic operation. Over 60 years of age was the only risk factor for late death. Our 16 years'cummulative experience shows that aortic root replacement, mainly by means of Cabrol's procedure, can be applied successfully to variety of aortic root disease. However, long-term follow up will be needed to determine the late result of aortic valve-saving operation and root replacement with homograft. When dissection is present or the distal native aorta is diseased in'Marfan patients, close follow-up is necessary because of the subsequent aneurysmal change of remaining aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2010

The Bentall-DeBono operation is the technique of choice for aortic root replacement. When the patients have contraindications for lifelong anticoagulation, the biologic Bentall operation may be a good option. However, complex reoperation may be required when bioprosthetic degeneration occurs. For this reason, a new technique for simple reoperation after the Bentall operation has recently been performed by some surgeons. We performed a similar technique in two patients with aortic root dilation and for whom aortic valve sparing techniques could not be performed because of an unrepairable valve contour, we think this modification seems to be simple and reproducible for reoperation.