AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT USING AUTOLOGOUS PERICARDIUM WITHOUT TEMPLATES: SHORT AND MID-TERM OUTCOMES

Highlights We have described the outcomes of aortic valve replacement using autologous pericardium without special templates. Although S. Ozaki is considered by many to be the founder of neocuspidization technique, the methods for sizing of the neocusps were proposed long before him. The method of the Japanese professor involves using special templates. This article presents a mathematical formula to calculate neocusps` size, which significantly simplifies the procedure, and makes it possible to perform it in centers that do not possess Ozaki templates. Abstract Aim : To describe an original technique of aortic valve replacement using autologous pericardium without templates. The calculation of the neocusps` size is based on the diameter of aortic annulus, which can be estimated both intraoperatively and preoperatively, helps to reduce the duration of surgery, CPB time and myocardial ischemia, and lower the rates of late complications. Methods : The prospective study included 34 patients with aortic valve disease admitted to the Cardiac Surgical Department of the University Clinical Hospital No.1 of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov, Ministry of Health of Russia in the period from January 2020 to March 2023. The mean age of the patients was 51±17 years (from 19 to 78 years). Gender distribution in the total group was as follows: male 50% (n = 17), female 50% (n = 17). All patients underwent aortic valve replacement using autologous pericardium without templates (by calculating the neocusps` size). Isolated aortic valve replacement was performed in 17 patients (50%), ascending aorta replacement in 11 patients (32.3%), mitral valve intervention in 5 (14.7%), coronary artery bypass grafting in 3 (8.8%) cases. 11 patients (32.3%) had aortic valve stenosis, 4 patients (11.7%) had insufficiency, and 19 patients (55.8%) had both stenosis and insufficiency. Bicuspid aortic valve was detected in 18 patients (52.9%). All patients were divided into two groups: Komarov (aortic valve replacement only) and Komarov Plus (aortic valve replacement and treatment for concomitant cardiac pathology). Results : There were no cases of conversion to traditional aortic valve replacement using prosthetic valves. There were 2 cases of in-hospital mortality; according to medical records, death in both cases was due to complications provoked by double pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. 1 patient required reoperation 4 months after the intervention due endocarditis caused by Streptococcus viridans. In the midterm follow-up period, hemodynamic parameters such as peak gradient, mean gradient, and peak velocity were 11.96±4.70 mm Hg, 5.88±2.07 mm Hg, 168.19±30.56 mm Hg. Conclusions : The obtained valve prosthesis is anatomically analogous to the native valve and provides reliable peak pressure reduction, no postoperative regurgitation, and increased effective orifice area. The proposed method is safe and can serve as an alternative to the Ozaki procedure, in which the neocusps are outlined using special templates.