Aim: We have retrospectively evaluated our results after aortic root and ascending aorta reoperations to determine risk factors of early death and late mortality.
Methods: From January 1986 to April 2002, 73 patients underwent ''reoperative'' procedures on the aortic root and the ascending aorta. The mean age was 56.1+/-13.4 years and males numbered 62 (84.9%). The most frequent indication for reoperation was degenerative aortic aneurysm (49.3%) followed by post-dissection aneurysm (11%). Aortic root replacement with composite valve graft was performed in 47 patients (64.4%) and with aortic homograft in 2 (2.7%). Nineteen patients (26%) underwent ascending aorta replacement with tubular graft, and 4 (5.5%) underwent tailoring aortoplasty of the ascending aorta.
Results: The 30-day mortality rate was 16.4% (12 patients). Mortality following elective operations was 8%, and that following urgent or emergency operations was 34.8% (p=0.002). Late survival of hospital survivors at 1, 5 and 10 years was 93.8%, 77.7% and 37%, respectively. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis chronic renal failure (p=0.003) and urgent or emergency operation (p=0.018) were found to be independent predictors of late mortality.
Conclusions: Reoperations on the ascending aorta can be accomplished with acceptable early mortality and satisfactory long-term
Results: More radical treatment of the aortic pathology at the initial operation may reduce the need for further reoperations. A careful follow-up is extremely important for detecting complications of the first operation or progression of the aortic pathology before an emergency operation, predictive of poorer early and late outcome, is needed.