title: Ross Operation with decellularized pulmonary allografts: medium-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the medium-term results (4 years) of decellularized allografts during Ross Operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2003 to February 2007, 68 patients underwent Ross Operation with decellularized allografts. Forty eight were male and the mean age was 30.3+/-11.2 years. Decellularization was done with deoxicolic acid (DOA) in 35 cases and with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in 33. For comparison of the gradients, 68 patients with cryopreserved allografts and matched for age were selected. All patients had a control echo before hospital discharge and annually thereafter. In addition, eight patients had MRI studies. In two patients, samples of the conduit wall were analyzed by histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was one (1.4%) early death. In the late follow-up, there were two reoperations for endocarditis and one late death. The early gradients varied between 4 29 mmHg (m= 10.3+/- 5.5 mmHg) and exhibited an increase to 16.5+/-12.2 mmHg (min=4, max=45) at 24 months postoperatively. There were no significant differences when compared to the cryopreserved group. There was, however, a tendency towards lesser gradients in the SDS decellularized group after 12 months. Histological analysis revealed partial reendothelization and progressive repopulation of the tunica media with autogenous cells. There was no progressive pulmonary insufficiency. The MRI results showed a lesser tendency to shrinkage in the decellularized conduits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of decellularized allografts was safe and with good medium-term results up to 4 years. There was a tendency to lower late gradients in the SDS decellularized allografts after 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department - PUCPR. fcosta@mps.com.br
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dohmen
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Sérgio Veiga
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Claudinei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colatusso
authors.forename: Elaine Welk Lopes
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Camila Naomi
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Sanderson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cauduro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D015925:Cryopreservation; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013997:Time Factors; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate