The outcome after aortic valve-sparing (David) operation in 179 patients: a single-centre experience

The David aortic valve-sparing reimplantation (AVr-D) operation is increasingly being used in patients with aortic root aneurysmal disease and pliable aortic cusps. The objective of this study was to assess our early and medium-term outcomes with the AVr-D operation. Between 2003 and 2011, a total of 179 patients underwent AVr-D procedures. The mean patient age was 49.7 +/- 15.1 years, and 23.5% (n = 42) were females. Marfan syndrome was present in 17.3% of patients (n = 31), and acute Type A aortic dissection in 15.6% (n = 28). Clinical follow-up was 100% complete and was 1.8 +/- 1.6 years (0 days to 7.5 years) long. Echocardiographic follow-up was performed 2.2 +/- 1.5 years (0 days to 7.5 years) postoperatively and was 77% complete. Early mortality was 1.1% (n = 2), with both deaths occurring in patients with Type A dissection. Pre-discharge echocardiography revealed no patients with > 2+ aortic insufficiency (AI), 19.6% of patients (n = 34) with 1+ or 2+ AI and 80.4% of patients (n = 145) with trace or no AI. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameters decreased significantly from 5.6 +/- 0.9 to 5.1 +/- 0.8 cm early postoperatively (P < 0.01). Transvalvular maximum gradients were similar before discharge and at last follow-up (10.6 +/- 5.4 vs. 10.0 +/- 8.2 mmHg, P = 0.4). AI grade increased significantly over time (0.3 +/- 0.4 before discharge vs. 0.5 +/- 0.6 at follow-up, P = 0.01), but remained less than moderate in 93.6% of patients. Four patients required aortic valve re-replacement during follow-up, two due to early endocarditis and two due to non-coronary leaflet prolapse in Marfan patients. Five-year freedom from aortic valve reoperation was 95.9 +/- 2.0%. AVr-D is associated with a low mortality and morbidity rate, even in patients with Type A aortic dissection. Although a slightly higher rate of recurrent AI may be present in patients with Marfan syndrome, freedom from recurrent AI and reoperation remains excellent during medium-term follow-up. The David operation should be considered the gold standard for patients with proximal aortic root pathology (aneurysm or dissection) and pliable aortic cusps.