LEGEND
Figure 1 – A, after being sutured distally (at the level of the sino-tubular junction) and proximally (between the distal ascending aorta and the proximal arch), the fresh autologous pericardium is wrapped around the aorta. B, another suture is then passed parallel to the previous one (white arrows and dashed lines), from the proximal to the distal ascending aorta (fig. 1B). C, this suture is put in tension to allow the pericardium to fit properly to the ascending aorta. D, the final aspect is an ascending aorta with the same shape and size than before surgery, but completely wrapped with fresh autologous pericardium, that, at the follow up, becomes completely adherent to the aorta (E).
Table 1 – Preoperative and perioperative data (n=10)
Age (y) 69±7
Female gender 2
Hypertension 7
Diabetes 0
COPD 0
Creatinine 1±0.2
Creatinine clearance (ml/min) 78±28
CRF moderate 7
Severe 1
Peripheral vascular disease 1
Previous CVA 0
Redo 0
NYHA Class I-II 7
III 3
ESII 3.5±1.7
EF (%) ≥50 6
35-49 4
AVR 1
AVR+CABG 5
CABG (off-pump) 4
ECC (min, n=6) 132±26
Xclamping (min, n=6) 88±19
Table 2 – Echocardiographic aortic measurements before surgery, at intermediate and at last follow up.
baseline intermediate last p1 p2 p3 ANOVA
16±4 mos 53±14 mos
Valsalva sinuses (mm) 37.4±1.9 36.5±2.6 36.2±2.7 0.04 0.03 0.08 0.03
Sinotubular junction (mm) 38.5±2.3 37.7±3.0 37.7±2.9 0.07 0.07 0.34 0.07
Ascending aorta (mm) 45.2±2.0 42.7±4.2 42.5±4.1 0.04 0.03 0.33 0.03
Proximal arch (mm) 37.1±1.6 36.6±2.5 36.3±2.9 0.32 0.20 0.08 0.20
p1: baseline vs median 1: p2: baseline vs last; p3: median vs last
Legend: mos, months.