Eighteen years of clinical experience with a modification of the Bentall button technique for total root replacement.

Background: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with the modified Bentall procedure and evaluated the short- and long-term results over a period of 18 years.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2017, 89 patients with a mean age of 57.3±13.9 years underwent the modified Bentall operation with a slight modification for the correction of aortic root disease.

Results: The operative mortality was 1.1% while the overall early mortality rate, defined as death within 30 days of initial hospitalization, was 2.2% (2/89). Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased Euroscore and aortic cross-clamp times were associated with greater likelihood for complications. The overall survival rates for the 89 patients (including deaths occurred at the initial hospitalization) were 93.0% (SE =3.0%) at 6 months, 93.0% (SE =3.0%) at 1 year, 89% (SE =5.0%) at 5 years and 73.0% (SE =5.0%) at 10, 15 and 18 years. Multiple Cox regression analysis for survival identified that increased aortic cross-clamp time, increased age, having a concomitant cardiac procedure and increased NYHA Class were associated with greater hazard. Left ventricular remodeling was assessed by means of echocardiography preoperatively and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

Conclusions: According to our experience, the Bentall procedure is a safe procedure, provides optimal long-term survival and can still be regarded as the gold standard procedure for aortic root replacement.