Single leaflet reconstruction in paediatric aortic regurgitation using the Ozaki procedure

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: Aortic valve repair in children is still a challenge. The aim of this study was to analyse the surgical results of children with aortic regurgitation who underwent single leaflet reconstruction using the Ozaki procedure in our medical centre. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of nine children with aortic regurgitation who received single leaflet reconstruction from May 2017 to September 2019. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare the data at different time points. Results: The median surgical age was 4.7 (3.5, 6.4) years. Eight patients were pre-operatively diagnosed with severe aortic regurgitation, while one had moderate regurgitation. The left ventricles were significantly enlarged, with an average z-score of 3.8. Single leaflet reconstruction was carried out using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium under the standard Ozaki procedure. The median follow-up was 22 (14, 33) months. There was no post-operative death or re-intervention. One patient had moderate or more aortic regurgitation during the follow-up. The average degree of aortic regurgitation was mild, and the average z-score of the left ventricle decreased to −0.2 in the last follow-up. Conclusions: Single leaflet reconstruction using the Ozaki procedure was an effective surgical method for treating children with aortic regurgitation in our centre with satisfactory short-term results.