[Short-term results with the ross procedure. Does the etiology of aortic valvulopathy affect the outcome?].
BACKGROUND
The Ross procedure has become established as an appropriate method for aortic valve replacement in children and young adults. There is controversy regarding the results of this surgical technique depending on whether the aortic valve disorder is congenital or acquired. The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of this technique in different etiologies.


METHODS
We analyzed 61 patients who underwent the Ross procedure between November 1997 and November 2001. Age range was 6 to 54 years, and 44 patients (72%) were male. The mean duration of follow-up was 15.6 (10.6) months. The aortic valve lesion was stenosis in 17 patients, regurgitation in 22 and both in 22. The patients were divided into two groups: etiology was congenital in group I (40 patients) and acquired in group II (21 patients: 14 rheumatic, 2 degenerative, 2 endocarditis and 3 other).


RESULTS
Pre-intervention data showed significant differences in age, functional class and percentage of patients with previous cardiac surgery. In the last follow-up examination, autograft gradient and homograft gradient were similar in both groups. Diastolic and systolic diameters and left ventricle ejection fraction were normal in both groups and did not differ between groups. Major events during follow-up were: 1 patient died, 1 patient had endocarditis, and 2 patients needed stent implantation in the homograft in group I; 2 patients in group II underwent reoperation because of severe autograft dysfunction. There were no statistically significant differences between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term morbidity and mortality associated with the Ross procedure are low in patients with either congenital or acquired aortic valvulopathy.
Rus
Carmen
C
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. crusmansilla@yahoo.es
Mesa
Dolores
D
Concha
Manuel
M
Casares
Jaime
J
Suárez De Lezo
José
J
Delgado
Mónica
M
Franco
Manuel
M
Romo
Elías
E
Ruiz
Martín
M
Vallés
Federico
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome