Medium-term follow up of pulmonary autograft aortic valve replacement: technical advances and echocardiographic follow up.
OBJECTIVE
The Ross procedure (aortic valve replacement (AVR) with pulmonary autograft and pulmonary homograft replacement of pulmonary valve) was developed as a durable aortic valve substitute that avoids the need for anticoagulation and provides young patients with a long-lasting aortic valve substitute. Our seven-year follow up echocardiography data are reviewed.


METHODS
Between May 1993 and March 2000, 40 adult patients (28 males, 12 females; mean age 33.3 years) underwent the Ross procedure at the Brigham and Women's Hospital for congenital aortic stenosis (n = 6), aortic insufficiency (n = 17) and mixed disease (n = 17). All patients had aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft and had no regurgitation after operation. Postoperative evaluation was conducted by transthoracic echocardiography, office visit and/or telephone interview. NYHA functional class, aortic and pulmonary valve function and aortic root dimensions were evaluated.


RESULTS
One patient died postoperatively as a result of a low output state related to global left ventricular dysfunction. Four patients (10%) developed pulmonary homograft stenosis with a peak gradient >40mmHg; and six developed mild pulmonary stenosis. One patient had aortic insufficiency seven years postoperatively that required valve replacement. Eight patients developed mild dilatation (>37 mm) of the neoaortic root, and five of these had aortic insufficiency. One patient required transplantation at 40 months for restrictive cardiomyopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
The Ross procedure is an effective means of AVR that can be accomplished with low perioperative morbidity and mortality if certain technical modifications are carried out. In this series of 40 patients with mid-term follow up, a significant number developed moderate pulmonary trunk stenosis, though echo characterization demonstrated good valve function.
Linden
P A
PA
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA.
Cohn
L H
LH
D000328:Adult; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D012086:Reoperation; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous