Aortic root changes before and after surgery for chronic aortic dilatation: A 3D echocardiographic study

BACKGROUND: Quantitative 3D assessment of the aortic root may improve planning and success of aortic valve (AV)-sparing operations. AIMS: To use 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess the effect of chronic aortic dilatation on aortic root shape and aortic regurgitation (AR) severity and to examine the effects of AV-sparing operations. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the changes with chronic aortic dilatation, we studied 48 patients, 23 with aortic dilatation (Group 1 ≤ mild AR, n = 13; Group 2 ≥ moderate AR, n = 10) and 25 Controls. To determine the changes in AV-sparing operations, a subgroup of 15 patients were examined pre- and post surgery. 3D-TEE images were analyzed using multiplanar reconstruction (QLAB, Philips, Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA) to obtain aortic root areas, diameters, and lengths. We also calculated a novel parameter called total coaptation surface area (TCoapSA), which sums the contact surface area of all the AV cusps. Compared to Controls, Groups 1 and 2 had significantly larger aortic root areas, inter-commissural distances, and cusp heights. Compared to Group 1 and Controls, Group 2 had significantly smaller TCoapSA when adjusted for aortic annular area (P = 0.001) with shorter coaptation height (P < 0.001). In patients undergoing AV-sparing surgery, TCoapSA was significantly larger post surgery (P = 0.001) with greater coaptation height (P < 0.001) and smaller inter-commissural distances (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The aortic valve is a dynamic structure that remodels in response to aortic dilatation. Successful valve-sparing surgery corrects these changes. Quantitative modeling of the aortic valve and root could potentially improve the repair to the individual patients and modify outcomes.