Preoperative Risk Factors for Residual Aortic Regurgitation after Valve Re-Suspension Procedure in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

This study evaluated factors influencing residual aortic regurgitation (AR) after valve re-suspension surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. From January 1996 through December 2002, 63 patients were treated for acute type A dissection at our institution. Among these 63 patients, pre-and postoperative echocardiograms were available in 38 patients who underwent surgery combined with native aortic valve re-suspension. These 38 patients were divided into 2 groups according to the postoperative AR grade, i. e.: AR group: AR grade≥II (n=6), no-AR group: AR grade≤I (n=32). The severity of pre and postoperative AR was assessed by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography. The preoperative diameters of mid ascending aorta and sinotubular junction, and the percentage of the circumference of the dissection at the sinotubular junction level was measured by enhanced CT scan. Preoperative patient backgrounds were similar in both groups. The preoperative AR grade in the AR group was significantly greater than that of the no-AR group (2.25±1.17: 0.69±0.91, p