title: Infective endocarditis after the Ross procedure.
abstract: The Ross procedure is presumed to have a lower incidence of infective endocarditis during follow-up compared to other traditional aortic replacement procedure. We describe 4 cases of infective endocarditis during follow-up of 96 patients who underwent the Ross procedure in our institution. All episodes occurred in patients with a previously dysfunctioning graft. One patient required surgery during the active phase of the infective endocarditis. Clinical outcome was successful in all patients and no one died during follow-up. In conclusion, the incidence of infective endocarditis in patients operated on using the Ross procedure is not negligible. The potential beneficial effect of the Ross procedure with respect to a higher resistance to infection should be evaluated in large prospective series.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamez
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bonilla
authors.forename: Manuel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Anguita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult