The Ross procedure in adults: intermediate-term results.
BACKGROUND
The durability of the Ross procedure may be optimized by appropriate geometric matching of the aortic and pulmonary artery roots. We employed a surgical strategy to standardize the operation in order to avoid more readily a geometric mismatch.


METHODS
The Ross procedure was performed as a root replacement. Without regard for patient body surface area, the aortic annulus was plicated to 23 mm and externally buttressed with felt. Geometric mismatch of the distal autograft anastomosis was avoided by liberal use of a synthetic interposition graft, and the anastomosis was also externally buttressed with felt. An over-sized pulmonary homograft (27 to 28 mm) was routinely used to reconstruct the right ventricular outflow tract.


RESULTS
Forty-four consecutive patients (27 men and 17 women; mean age, 49 +/- 9 years) were operated on between January 1997 and March 2002. Mean follow-up was 38 +/- 5 months. Twenty-nine patients had aortic stenosis and 15 had aortic regurgitation. Aortic annular plication was done in 41 (93%) and an aortic interposition was used in 14 (32%). There were three hospital deaths, with no subsequent deaths. Only 1 patient required reoperation 2.5 years postoperatively from recurrent endocarditis. No patient has more that "trivial" autograft insufficiency, and the mean autograft gradient was 7 +/- 3 mm Hg. No patient has significant pulmonary homograft stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Geometric matching of the aortic and pulmonary roots may be readily accomplished using a standardized approach to the Ross procedure. In turn, this may optimize the durability of the operation.
Fullerton
David A
DA
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. dfullert@nmh.org
Fredericksen
James W
JW
Sundaresan
R Sudhir
RS
Horvath
Keith A
KA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome