A novel solution to prosthetic valve dehiscence after aortic valve surgery in Behçet's disease.

Objectives: Prosthetic valve dehiscence after aortic valve surgery in Behçet's disease patients is common. We aimed to validate the usefulness of our new technique 'subannular endomyocardial implantation of valve prosthesis' designed to prevent prosthetic valve dehiscence.

Methods: Subannular endomyocardial implantation of valve prosthesis involves suturing the sewing cuff of the valve prosthesis in the endomyocardium below the aortic annulus, which is based on the idea that annular tissue should be excluded from the suture line in Behçet's disease patients. Medical records of 7 patients in whom the new technique was performed between 2002 and 2014 were reviewed.

Results: Five men and two women were included (median age, 44 years). Aortic root replacement was performed in 6 cases, and aortic valve replacement in 1. No operative mortality occurred. Postoperatively, complete atrioventricular block developed in 3 cases, and permanent pacemakers were implanted in 2. No reoperation was performed for prosthetic valve dehiscence during the median 7.8-year follow-up. One late death occurred due to sudden cardiac arrest 8.4 years after surgery. One additional permanent pacemaker was implanted for complete atrioventricular block, which developed at 4.2 years postoperatively. The last echocardiography (median, 6.7 years after surgery) revealed no paravalvular leakages.

Conclusions: Subannular endomyocardial implantation of valve prosthesis seems useful for preventing prosthetic valve dehiscence after aortic valve surgery for Behçet's disease. It poses a risk of complete atrioventricular block, but considering the high reoperation rate and mortality due to prosthetic valve dehiscence after conventional aortic valve surgery, this risk seems reasonable.