The Ross operation: a Trojan horse?
OBJECTIVE
The Ross operation is the operation of choice for children who require aortic valve replacement (AVR) and may also provide a good option in selected adult patients. Although the autograft does not require anticoagulation and has a superior haemodynamic profile, concern regarding autograft and allograft longevity has risen. In this light, we report the 13-year results of our prospective autograft cohort study.


RESULTS
Between 1988 and 2005, 146 consecutive patients underwent AVR with a pulmonary autograft at Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam. Mean age was 22 years (SD 13; range 4 months-52 years), 66% were male. Hospital mortality was 2.7% (N = 4); during follow-up four more patients died. Thirteen-year survival was 94 +/- 2%. Over time, 22 patients required autograft reoperation for progressive neo-aortic root dilatation. In addition, eight patients required allograft reoperation. Freedom from autograft reoperation at 13 years was 69 +/- 7%. Freedom from allograft reoperation for structural failure at 13 years was 87 +/- 5%. Risk factors for autograft reoperation were previous AVR and adult patient age.


CONCLUSIONS
Although survival of the Rotterdam autograft cohort is excellent, over time a worrisome increase in reoperation rate is observed. Given the progressive autograft dilatation, careful follow-up of these patients is warranted in the second decade after operation.
Klieverik
Loes M A
LM
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Bd 571, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. l.klieverik@erasmusmc.nl
Takkenberg
Johanna J M
JJ
Bekkers
Jos A
JA
Roos-Hesselink
Jolien W
JW
Witsenburg
Maarten
M
Bogers
Ad J J C
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome