Aortic Distensibility after Aortic Root Replacement Assessed with Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Giovanni Melina MD, Kim Rajappan MRCP, Mohamed Amrani FRCS, Asghar Khaghani FRCS, Dudley J. Pennell FRCP, Magdi H. Yacoub FRS

Using cardiac magnetic resonance, we have investigated the dimensional changes of the aortic root and its relationship with left ventricular mass and function in a group of patients from a prospective randomized trial to compare the homograft versus the Freestyle root replacement. One year after surgery, the percentage change in radius (PCR) was 10 ± 1.7% in the homograft and 8.5 ± 2.8% in the Freestyle group, while the pressure strain elastic modulus (PSEM) was 520.5 ± 87.3 and 825 ± 420.4 g/cm², respectively. With reduced PCR values and increased PSEM, the left ventricular mass was higher and the left ventricular function reduced. It is concluded that one year after full aortic root replacement, both the homografts and the xenografts showed near-normal distensibility, and that there was a relationship between aortic distensibility, stiffness and left ventricular mass and function.