Ross operation for active culture-positive aortic valve endocarditis with extensive paravalvular involvement.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the midterm results of the Ross operation in active advanced endocarditis.


METHODS
Between June 1994 and June 2000 a pulmonary autograft aortic root replacement was performed in 11 consecutive patients who had urgent or emergent procedures for active endocarditis with extensive involvement of the aortic root (10 native, 1 prosthetic). Patients ranged in age from 26 to 45 years (median, 33 years). Indications for operation were uncontrolled infection (n = 5), hemodynamic deterioration (n = 3), or both (n = 3). Four patients were in the New York Heart Association class III, 6 in class IV, and 1 was operated on while in cardiogenic shock. Four patients (36%) suffered an embolic cerebrovascular accident preoperatively. The endocarditis affected the mitral valve in 2 patients and the tricuspid valve in 1 patient.


RESULTS
There was no early or late death. Recurrent endocarditis was not detected in any of the patients during the follow-up period ranging up to 72 months (median, 40 months).


CONCLUSIONS
The autograft may well be the best substitute for aortic root reconstruction in advanced endocarditis.
Prat
A
A
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiologic Hospital, University of Lille, France. aprat@chru-lille.fr
Saez de Ibarra
J I
JI
Vincentelli
A
A
Decoene
C
C
Fabre
O H
OH
Jegou
B
B
Savoye
C
C
D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography