Aortic root replacement with cryopreserved homograft for infective endocarditis in the modern North American opioid epidemic

Objective: To study mid-term survival in patients with infective endocarditis as a result of IV drug use undergoing aortic root replacement with cryopreserved aortic homograft. Methods: Patients undergoing aortic root homograft replacement from 20112017 were studied retrospectively. Aortic root replacement was performed using a modified Bentall technique. Primary outcomes included both short-term and mid-term survival. Secondary outcomes included immediate postoperative complications. Results: A total of 138 patients underwent cryopreserved homograft replacement of the aortic root for aortic root abscesses. Eighty-five patients (61.6%) underwent reoperative sternotomy, and 12 patients (8.7%) underwent second or third reoperative sternotomy. Sixty-seven (48.5%) patients had severe aortic insufficiency preoperatively. Operative mortality was 12.3%(17 patients). Five patients (3.6%) sustained a permanent stroke. Twenty-one patients (15.2%) required dialysis for renal failure, and 21 patients (15.2%) had complete heart block necessitating a permanent pacemaker. Estimated 5-year mortality for the cohort was 43%. Conclusions: Cryopreserved homograft replacement is a safe and desirable option for high-risk patients with infective endocarditis and aortic root abscess. Homograft accommodation for a widely debrided aortic annular bed provides a reasonable surgical strategy for patients needing aortic root replacement with annular abscess.