[Aortic root replacement using an allograft for active infective endocarditis with periannular abscess: single center experience].

Objectives: Results of aortic root replacement using an allograft for active infective endocarditis in the aortic position and periannular abscess were studied.

Methods: Aortic root replacement using a cryopreserved aortic allograft was performed 13 times in 12 patients (9 men, 3 women, mean age 52.8 years) at Saitama Medical School. Allografts were obtained from the Tokyo University Tissue Bank. Infection affected the prosthetic valve in 6 patients and the native valve in 7. Causative organisms were Staphylococci in 7 patients, Streptococci in 2, and unknown in 4. New York Heart Association functional class was II in 2 patients, III in 3, and IV in 8. Six patients required inotropic support. Four were mechanically ventilated. Two were in a state of profound shock. Four had multiple organ failure. Surgery was conducted under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. Allograft was sewn into place by monofilament continuous sutures. Carrel patch technique was used for coronary artery reconstruction. Five patients underwent concomitant procedures (replacement of the ascending aorta in 2 patients, coronary artery bypass grafting in 1, mitral valve repair in 1, pulmonary artery reconstruction in 1).

Results: Duration of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic clamping were 507 +/- 154, 307 +/- 111, and 189 +/- 49 min, respectively. Two patients required intraaortic balloon pumping, and one required percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. Two patients in a state of shock died(hospital mortality: 15.4%). Duration of mechanical ventilation was 2.9 +/- 3.7 days. Intensive care unit stay was 4.6 +/- 5.5 days, and hospital stay was 61 +/- 26 days. One patient died of cancer 18 months later. One patient required reoperation 11 months later. Including operative death cases, cumulative survival at 2 years was 66.5% and freedom from cardiac events was 72.7%.

Conclusions: Aortic root replacement with an allograft yielded acceptable clinical results.