Background: Pulmonary autograft aortic valve replacement has been introduced in our institution in selected adult patients in light of the known disadvantages and limitations of conventional prosthetic valves.
Methods: We prospectively evaluated the use of the pulmonary autograft in a series of 70 young adults (31.2+/-8.7 years, range 16 to 49 years) operated on from March 1992 to April 1997 with aortic root replacement only.
Results: There were no in-hospital deaths and two noncardiac-related late deaths during follow-up of up to 62 months (mean 33 months). Thromboembolic complications were not observed. One patient required reoperation for infective endocarditis 4.3 years after surgery. Discharge echo-Doppler studies showed normal autograft and allograft valve function. Serial echo-Doppler studies showed no significant progression of aortic insufficiency and no dilatation of the autograft. A severe stenosis of the pulmonary allograft developed in 1 patient.
Conclusion: Aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft, although more complex than conventional prosthetic valve replacement, is a safe, effective, and reproducible procedure in properly selected adult patients. Long-term results remain to be evaluated.