Preoperative Cardiac Computed Tomography Characteristics Associated with Recurrent Aortic Regurgitation after Aortic Valve Re-Implantation

OBJECTIVE: To identify the preoperative cardiac computed tomography (CT) factors influencing postoperative recurrent aortic regurgitation (AR) in patients who underwent aortic valve repair with the re-implantation technique (David operation) due to AR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 117 patients (age, 49.4 ± 15.6 years; 83 males) who underwent the David operation for AR were included in this retrospective study. Aortic root profiles including the aortic regurgitant orifice area (ARO) and the aortic cusp asymmetry ratio of the areas (ASR(area)), which is defined as the maximum/minimum areas among the three cusp areas at the level of the commissures, were measured on preoperative cardiac CT scans. Clinical and CT findings were compared between a group with recurrent AR grade < 3 (no, trivial, or mild AR) and recurrent ≥ 3 + AR. To determine the optimal cut-off values of ASR and ARO, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used. Cox regression analysis was used for the analysis of the factors affecting recurrent 3 + AR. RESULTS: Postoperatively, recurrent 3 + AR developed in 17 (14.5%) patients and occurred within a median of 268 days (interquartile range: 78–582 days). The cut-off ARO value for discriminating the patients with recurrent 3 + AR was > 24 mm(2) (sensitivity, 76.5%; specificity 64.8%), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.72. For ASR(area), the cut-off value was > 1.58 (sensitivity, 76.5%; specificity, 58.0%) and the AUC was 0.64. Multivariable Cox regression showed that ARO > 24 mm(2) (hazard ratio = 3.79, p = 0.020) was a potential independent parameter for recurrent 3 + AR. ROC for the linear regression model showed that the AUC for both ARO and ASR(area) was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.81, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ARO and ASR(area) detected on preoperative cardiac CT would be potentially helpful for identifying AR patients who may benefit from the David operation.