Moderately dilated ascending aorta associated with rheumatic heart disease represents a surgical dilemma for the cardiac surgeons. If the aorta left untreated, the possibility of aneurysm formation and dissection of the aorta is increasing, and if the dilated aorta is replaced by Bental procedure then mortality and morbidity may be increased.
Aim
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of conservative resection of moderately dilated ascending aorta associated with rheumatic heart disease.
Methods
Between October 2005 till December 2008, 140 patients underwent aortic valve replacement due to rheumatic heart disease in our institution. Twenty of them had concomitant conservative resection of the ascending aorta for a moderately dilated ascending aorta between 40 – 50 mm in diameter (Group 1). The other 120 patients who had only aortic valve replacement constitute (Group 2). Demographic, intra and immediate postoperative data were collected. Patients were followed up by echocardiography for a period between 6 and 22 months (mean 11±2.4).
Results
Preoperative variables were comparable in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in both groups regarding Operative time, aortic cross clamp time, and total bypass time.
Echocardiographic diameter of the ascending aorta was significantly reduced from 43.9 mm preoperatively to 33.9 mm in the immediate postoperative period (P