PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lucas Van Hoof
AU  - Filip Rega
AU  - Tal Golesworthy
AU  - Peter Verbrugghe
AU  - Conal Austin
AU  - Johanna J M Takkenberg
AU  - John R Pepper
AU  - Tom Treasure
TI  - Personalised external aortic root support for elective treatment of aortic root dilation in 200 patients
AID  - 10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319300
DP  - 2021 Nov 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - 1790--1795
VI  - 107
IP  - 22
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/107/22/1790.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/107/22/1790.full
SO  - Heart2021 Nov 01; 107
AB  - Background and objectives In personalised external aortic root support (PEARS), a custom-made, macroporous mesh is used to stabilise a dilated aortic root and prevent dissection, primarily in patients with genetically driven aortopathies. Data are needed on the safety and postoperative incidence of aortic events.Methods We present a multicentre cohort study evaluating the first 200 consecutive patients (median age 33 years) undergoing surgery with an intention to perform PEARS for aortic root dilatation in 23 centres between 2004 and 2019. Perioperative outcomes were collected prospectively while clinical follow-up was retrieved retrospectively. Median follow-up was 21.2 months.Results The main indication was Marfan syndrome (73.5%) and the most frequent concomitant procedure was mitral valve repair (10%). An intervention for myocardial ischaemia or coronary injury was needed in 11 patients, 1 case resulting in perioperative death. No ascending aortic dissections were observed in 596 documented postoperative patient years. Late reoperation was performed in 3 patients for operator failure to achieve complete mesh coverage. Among patients with at least mild aortic regurgitation (AR) preoperatively, 68% had no or trivial AR at follow-up.Conclusions This study represents the clinical history of the first 200 patients to undergo PEARS. To date, aortic dissection has not been observed in the restrained part of the aorta, yet long-term follow-up is needed to confirm the potential of PEARS to prevent dissection. While operative mortality is low, the reported coronary complications reflect the learning curve of aortic root surgery in patients with connective tissue disease. PEARS may stabilise or reduce aortic regurgitation.The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.