Follow-up
Median follow-up was 5.3 years (min 9 months max 13 years). All patients
received clinical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiography.
Computed tomography scan was scheduled after six months from surgery
(12/25, 48% of cases). Exercise stress tests were made in 8/25 (32%).
All symptomatic patients reported the disappearing of the symptoms at
follow-up and all athletes returned to sport or physical activity. No
basal ECG alteration were found in all. The echocardiographic studies
showed normal ejection fraction and regional wall motion. No aortic
insufficiency was observed in the patients required resuspension of the
commissures. Both echocardiography and CT scan (when available) showed
an improvement in the take-off angle (Figure 2). Exercise stress test
were negative in all. No patients referred discomfort for surgical
related pain (i.e. the sternotomy) or where scared about the restart of
physical activity. All patients and their families were satisfied with
the choice to have undergone to surgery.