Aortic Valve Reconstruction in the Young

Aortic valve replacement in the young patient, and particularly in women of child-bearing age, still represents a problem. Between July 1988 and August 1993, 644 aortic valve patients (mean age 32.5 years) were operated in our institution. Aortic valve reconstruction was performed in 274 (42.5%). A variety of repair techniques (valvuloplasty) was used in 202 patients (mean age 21.5 years). Concomitant mitral surgery was performed in 103 (51%). In 72 patients (mean age 27.7 years), a cusp extension was undertaken with glutaraldehyde treated bovine (27 pts) or autologous (45 pts) pericardium. In the "plasty" group, there were 8 (4%) hospital deaths and 8 (4.1%) late deaths with an actuarial survival of 86.05% +/- 3.97%. No thromboembolic events were detected in patients with isolated aortic surgery. There were 32 reoperations without mortality, 22 due to progressive rheumatic disruption of the mitral repair. There was severe aortic dysfunction in 17 (8.76%) cases. There was no hospital mortality among the 72 patients with cusp extensions. There were two (2.8%) late deaths and no thromboembolic events. No patient was anticoagulated. Four patients required reoperation on the aortic valve without mortality. The last echocardiographic follow-up showed stability of the reconstruction. These techniques offer a valid alternative to valve replacement in this difficult category of patients.