INTRODUCTION

Treatment of aortic root endocarditis remains a daunting and challenging procedure, often complicated by periannular abscess formation and dehiscence of the mitral-aortic continuity. Patients with infective endocarditis represent a high-risk cohort with significant mortality^[1,2], and early diagnosis/radical surgical treatment in the acute phase of endocarditis remains the gold standard treatment. Aggressive debridement of infected tissue is mandatory, often leading to severe defects of the outflow tract requiring complex reconstructive procedures^[3,4]. The debate about prosthesis choice in this setting has been ongoing and is dependent on several factors influencing long-term performance. Homografts are recommended by the international guidelines^[2], stentless valves have proven their efficacy in smaller case series with excellent long-term results^[5,6] , and conventional stented valves are a further option in the armamentarium of surgical procedures for valve endocarditis^[7,8].

We accessed data from our Medtronic Freestyle® valve patients, investigating the cohort of patients with infective endocarditis, either as native valve endocarditis (NVE) or prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), treated with the stentless xenograft, analyzing early and long-term results. We performed a propensity score matching analysis comparing results against a cohort of patients treated for complex aortic root and prosthetic valve infection with other tissue valves over the same time interval, identifying risk factors for in-hospital and long-term mortality. Furthermore, we performed a comparative analysis for the occurrence of postoperative complications and recurrence of graft infection or necessary reoperations.

METHODS

From the Oldenburg Freestyle database, patients with infective endocarditis were identified and included in the FS group. These patients suffered from NVE or PVE. Definition of endocarditis was according to positive blood culture, echocardiographic signs, vegetation, and/or root abscess according to the modified Duke criteria. Germ identification was performed, and relevant antibiotic treatment was initiated as soon as possible. Surgical treatment was applied in all patients in the acute phase of treatment and was performed by eight attending surgeons of the authors’ institution. Stentless bioroots were implanted in a full-root technique in all FS patients.

Patients with complex root endocarditis treated with other tissue valves were identified from our entire cohort of patients over the time span of 19 years (01.01.1999 to 15.08.2018). These included homografts, biological conduits other than Freestyle, and conventional stented xenografts. Stented tissue valves were used with abscess cavity closure by glutaraldehyde fixated pericardial closure or by inclusion via the proximal suturing of the xenograft.

To perform a comprehensive comparative analysis, a propensity score matching was applied, using the nearest neighbor method to achieve small mean standardized differences and identifying a control group of 54 patients (Figure 1). The variables included paired matching of age, sex, body mass index, coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, concomitant mitral valve surgery, concomitant bypass surgery, and any other concomitant procedures.

Fig.1 - Standardized mean differences of matching variables comparing Freestyle and Tissue groups.

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Fig.1 - Standardized mean differences of matching variables comparing Freestyle and Tissue groups.

Echocardiographic examination with vegetations on native or prosthetic valves, presence of intra- or periannular abscess, valve regurgitation, and atrioventricular dehiscence/fistulae were documented. Analysis of operative variables was performed with investigation of relevant cardiopulmonary bypass times, operative mortality, sepsis, and renal insufficiency as well as new onset of neurological deficits, among others. Primary endpoints were death and valve-related complications, including reinfection or reoperation of the implanted valve. New onset of thromboembolic complications or bleeding as well as structural valve deterioration were documented.

Clinical data was collected with reporting of adverse events according to the recommended guidelines of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the American Association of Thoracic Surgery^[9]. Hospital mortality was defined as mortality within the initial 30-day postoperative period or within the hospital stay when exceeding the first 30 days. Approval of the Ethics Committee of the University of Oldenburg was obtained (Ethics Approval Number 2017-040) with waiving of signed consent form due to the retrospective data analysis. The clinical data included in the postoperative follow-up were obtained by telephone questionnaire. Composite of death, reoperation, reinfection, and stroke was created to analyze major adverse events. Follow-up started upon date of discharge and was performed until death or the chosen cut-off period (15.08.2018). A follow-up of 100% was achieved.

The continuous variables were presented as means ± standard deviations if normally distributed. In case of non-normal distribution, the data was presented as medians with quartiles. Distributions were checked with Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. Independent sample t-tests were performed for normally distributed mean comparison and non-parametric tests in cases of non-normal distribution. Categorical variables were presented as absolute values and percentages with use of the chi-square test for comparison. Univariate regression analysis with presentation as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were implemented for assessing the risk-factors for early mortality. Risk factor analysis for late mortality was performed with use of the proportional hazard model with presentation as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CI. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival comparison was by implementation of the Log-Rank and Breslow tests.

We performed the statistical analysis using IBM Corp. Released 2017, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. and R software v.3.4.3 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).

RESULTS

The entire cohort of Medtronic Freestyle patients undergoing surgery at our institution consisted of 971 patients over 19 years. From this collective, a subgroup of 54 acute infective root endocarditis patients (the FS group) were identified. The entire unmatched group of tissue valve patients treated for endocarditis consisted of 331 patients; 171 could be identified with a complex root pathology including periannular abscess formation, intracardiac fistula, and aortomitral discontinuity in NVE or PVE. Fifty-four patients (defined as the Tissue group) were identified from this cohort using retrospective propensity matching.

Table 1 demonstrates the preoperative demographic data, similar in all variables. Tissue valve patients were of similar age to FS patients (mean of 65.8±12.6 vs. 62.8±13.3 years, respectively; P=0.20). Table 2 demonstrates further endocarditis characteristics, with staphylococcal strains as the main contributor and abscess formation in over 40% of the patients treated with the xenograft bioroot. Four patients (7.4%) in both groups had intracardiac fistula formation requiring closure, two redo FS patients and two redo Tissue patients. Four patients in the FS group and four patients in the Tissue valve group required patchplasty for treatment of the tissue defects created by the debridement necessary for definitive treatment of the endocarditis.

Table 1 - Preoperative patients' characteristics.

Table 2 - Characteristics of endocarditis.

Table 3 shows intraoperative data and adverse postoperative outcomes. Forty-nine Tissue patients were treated with stented xenografts and five patients with other biological conduits (three with Vascutek Root Elan^®, one with BioIntegral^®, and one with the Shelhigh NoReact^® conduit). There were no major differences in the intraoperative incidence of concomitant surgery; the replacement of the ascending aorta being more often in the FS group (P=0.008). The root replacement procedure was reflected by longer periods of cardiopulmonary bypass and respective cross-clamp time.

Table 3 - Intraoperative variables and postoperative adverse outcomes.

In-hospital mortality was numerically lower for FS patients in comparison to Tissue patients, however statistically failing to reach any significance. An analysis of the 14 deceased Tissue patients (25.9%) demonstrated devastating preoperative conditions of two patients in cardiogenic and septic shock and seven patients with reoperative surgery; three patients had double valve replacement with involvement of left and right sided valves and three patients with root surgery performed had concomitant surgery with bypass grafting. From the nine patients in the FS group (16.7%), a similar preoperative high-risk profile could be seen with eight reoperative procedures, two patients with double valve endocarditis, and one patient with left ventricular-right atrial fistula formation.

Follow-up was performed as described above. The median follow-up period was 2.7 years, with a total of 367 patient-years. Logistic regression analysis using a univariate model was performed to determine risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Age (P=0.04, OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.109) and congestive heart disease (CHD) (P=0.004, OR 4.23, 95% CI 1.59-11.5) were preoperative variables with influence on in-hospital mortality. Postoperative onset of renal insufficiency (P=0.001, OR 14.9, 95% CI 4.93-45.41) influenced early mortality. History of previous cardiac surgery posed no significance in the analysis for risk factors (P=0.09). Likewise, history of Freestyle implantation showed no significant risk for in-hospital mortality (P=0.32).

In a similar fashion, Cox regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors contributing to long-term mortality (Table 4). Age (P=0.008, HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.011-1.079) and CHD showed significance (P=0.009, HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.24-4.5). The necessity for bypass surgery (P=0.001, HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.85-7.5) and postoperative renal impairment (P=0.001, HR 6.4, CI 95% 3.26-12.7) showed statistic relevance. Furthermore, annular dehiscence demonstrated a 3,5-fold risk for late and 8-fold risk for early mortality.

Table 4 - Cox regression and logistic regression analysis for early and long-term results.

For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method was used (Figure 2). Cumulative survival at one, three, five, and ten years in the FS group was 70%, 66%, 63%, and 49% versus 60%, 57%, 47% and 29%, respectively, in the non-FS group. Log Rank test (Mantel Cox) was insignificant (P=0.36), and Breslow test demonstrated likewise no significant difference in long-term survival (P=0.33).

Fig. 2 - Kaplan-Meier survival curve with comparison between Freestyle and Tissue groups.

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Fig. 2 - Kaplan-Meier survival curve with comparison between Freestyle and Tissue groups.

Follow-up demonstrated a recurrent infection in 1/54 patients in the FS group, treated with a second stentless bioroot (1.8%), and 1/54 in the Tissue group (1.8%), treated with full-root replacement. There was no structural valve degeneration over the follow-up period for FS patients; one patient with a Mitroflow Bioprosthesis was reoperated eight years later due to valve degeneration. Major adverse events, defined by a composite endpoint of death, reoperation, valve infection, and stroke were analyzed, demonstrating no significant difference over the observed time period with a log rank P=0.2 (Figure 3).

Fig. 3 - Kaplan-Meier curve of composite endpoint (death, stroke, reoperation, and valve infection) of Freestyle and Tissue groups

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Fig. 3 - Kaplan-Meier curve of composite endpoint (death, stroke, reoperation, and valve infection) of Freestyle and Tissue groups

DISCUSSION

The high-risk profile of patients with acute infective endocarditis of the aortic valve and root presents a challenging scenario^[1,2]. Improved antibiotic treatment and modified surgical repair have reduced the relevance of avoiding foreign material, as propagated in the past. Homograft use in the current era is prone to cumbersome implementation: availability remains difficult, the technical challenge of the full-root procedure is complex for patients already presenting with high risk, and long-term durability of the allograft is limited due to accelerating calcification^[10-13].

Kim et al.^[14] investigated the performance of homografts pitted against mechanical and tissue valves evaluating short- and long-term outcomes. This failed to demonstrate a superiority of the homograft with regard to resistance to reinfection, early death, or overall death. Jassar et al. showed no significant difference when analyzing 134 patients with infective endocarditis treated with mechanical composite graft (32.1%), non-homograft biological valve conduit (41.0%), and homograft (26.9%) regarding re-admission, reinfection, and reoperation, presenting an in-hospital mortality of 18.6% vs. 21.8% vs. 25% (mechanical vs. tissue vs. homograft) and comparable survival in five years^[15].

Toyoda et al.^[8] investigated recurrent infections in patients undergoing mechanical or tissue valve replacement in the setting of endocarditis, failing to demonstrate any significant difference, with similar survival and freedom from endocarditis recurrence (9.4% vs. 10.0%, adjusted Cox P=0.81 after aortic valve replacement in 12 years).

Stentless bioroots have proven to be a viable alternative, the design facilitating reconstructive procedures at annular level and hemodynamic superiority by omission of the obstructive elements^[16]. A review by Perrotta et al.^[4,17] show stentless valves to have a low reinfection rate of 3.7% to 8.6%, comparable to homografts. Siniawski et al.^[6] compared patients receiving Shelhigh prostheses to homografts, showing good results for postoperative gradients and echocardiographic variables. Silaschi et al.^[5] demonstrated favorable outcomes of stentless valves when investigated against mechanical valves and stented bioprostheses with no early reinfection < 90 days for bioroot replacement vs. 4.4% for mechanical valves and 7.1% for stented tissue valves. Patients with complicated infective endocarditis had a superior long-term survival when treated with stentless valves, possibly by radical debridement leading to greater chance of infect-free tissue when performing root replacement surgery.

Our data, with large volume use of stentless valves, encouraged our approach to treatment of root endocarditis with the xenograft bioroot. The integrity of the functional unit of the aortic root contributes to the excellent long-term performance of the Freestyle valve, and the full-root technique simplifies oversizing and achieves an excellent haemodynamic profile left ventricular remodeling^[16]. The use of the Freestyle valve in the setting of infective endocarditis was described in smaller case series; Heinz et al.^[18] described their experience in 32 patients with a 30-day mortality of 19.4% and a freedom from death, reoperation, and recurrence of infection as a composite endpoint for 56.3% after five years and 53.1% at 10 years^[19]. Schneider et al.^[20] likewise demonstrated a series of 54 patients with excellent results, an early mortality of 11%, and late mortality of 14%. Miceli et al.^[21] investigated a small series of 18 patients treated with the stentless Freestyle bioprosthesis with an in-hospital mortality of 11% and freedom from reoperation of 87.5% after two years. These numbers compare well to the data presented here, an in-hospital mortality of 16.7% and a five-year survival of 63%, with one patient presenting with recurrent reinfection 38 months after the initial surgery. These numbers fare well in comparison to the Tissue valve group, with a five-year survival of 47% and likewise one patient reoperated with a full-root replacement for recurrent re-valve surgery for degeneration of the stented bioprosthesis. This data is supported by a previous report from our institution, comparing the FS cohort with a propensity matched group of all surgically treated endocarditis patients^[23].

Prosthetic valve infections present as an extremely high-risk cohort. Excision can often lead to significant damage of the annulus requiring complex reconstructive procedures. These patients represent the majority of patients treated with full-root stentless valves. Edlin et al.^[22] demonstrated 60% of patients with PVE with an overall mortality of 16% and 53% five-year survival. Schneider et al. likewise demonstrated 54% of the patients treated with the Freestyle full root with PVE^[20]. Miceli et al.^[21] showed 78% of their patients with PVE treated with the Medtronic Freestyle valve with excellent results, with an overall mortality of 11% and a freedom from reoperation of 87.5%. These numbers compare with our data, showing 61.1% of patients with PVE treated with the Medtronic Freestyle valve with an in-hospital mortality of 18.1% of this isolated cohort. The philosophy of root replacement allows suturing of the stentless valve to healthy tissue, excluding the abscess cavity from the bloodstream, possibly with positive influence on long-term freedom from reinfection.

The results of the studies to date suggest patient-specific factors to drive the choice of prosthesis. Operative variables clearly underline the technically more challenging procedure, this however does not negatively influence the early postoperative results in a significant manner. Early mortality was numerically lower in the FS group, however this failed to reach statistical significance.

Long-term results demonstrate a low reinfection rate and good structural valve integrity in comparison to the other valve types implemented. Selection bias in the treatment of infective endocarditis could be overcome by the propensity matching making the cohorts comparable and allowing us to use risk adjustments to evaluate postoperative outcome.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of patients with infective endocarditis of the aortic root remain a formidable task for patient and surgeon with a high mortality rate reflecting the high-risk profile. The use of stentless xenografts in a full-root fashion allow for easier reconstruction at annular level excluding the infective processes out of bloodstream, with a low recurrent reinfection rate over the entire follow-up period. The full-root valve design is beneficial for long-term durability and lack of obstructive elements allow varying therapeutic approaches for treatment of future valve degeneration.