The Ross procedure in children: preoperative haemodynamic manifestation has significant effect on late autograft re-operation.
OBJECTIVE
The Ross procedure is the aortic valve-replacement procedure of choice in children. Nonetheless, late autograft re-operation for dilatation and/or valve regurgitation is of concern. We examined whether preoperative haemodynamic manifestation (e.g., stenosis, regurgitation and mixed aortic valve disease) affected late re-operation risk.


METHODS
Medical records of 227 children who underwent the Ross procedure (1991-2004) were reviewed. Competing-risks methodology determined time-related prevalence and associated factors for two mutually exclusive end-states after the Ross procedure: (1) death prior to subsequent autograft re-operation and (2) autograft re-operation, with the remainder of patients being alive and free from subsequent autograft re-operation.


RESULTS
There were 162 male patients (71%) in this study. Median age at surgery was 12.1 years (range: 1 week-18 years). The haemodynamic aortic valve dysfunction was primarily stenosis (n=40, 18%), primarily regurgitation (n=109, 48%) and mixed disease (n=78, 35%). Underlying pathology was rheumatic fever (n=104, 46%), congenital heart disease (n=113, 50%) and endocarditis (n=8, 3%). Competing-risks analysis showed that, at 10 years following the Ross procedure, ∼5% of patients had died, 16% had undergone autograft re-operation with aortic valve replacement and 79% were alive and free from autograft re-operation. Ten-year freedom from autograft re-operation for patients with preoperative stenosis, regurgitation and mixed disease was 97%, 69% and 93%, respectively, (p<0.001 for regurgitation vs others). Risk factors for increased risk of autograft re-operation were rheumatic fever (parameter estimates (PEs): 2.09 ± 0.75, p=0.006), and earlier year of surgery (PE: 0.20 ± 0.06, p=0.001). Ten-year freedom from homograft replacement was 81% and was not dependent on haemodynamic manifestation (PE: -0.16 ± 0.38, p=0.68). Significant factors for homograft replacement included fresh homografts (PE: 2.2 ± 0.63, p=0.01) and annular enlargement (PE: 1.11 ± 0.3, p=0.01). Ten-year freedom from cardiac re-operation other than auto-/homograft was 85%, higher in patients with preoperative aortic regurgitation (PE: 1.01 ± 0.42, p=0.02). Concomitant cardiac surgery was a significant factor for late cardiac re-operation other than auto-/homograft replacement (PE: 1.79 ± 0.39, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The Ross procedure in children is associated with excellent survival. Late autograft re-operation may be required; however, it is more common in children with preoperative aortic regurgitation, especially those with rheumatic fever. Better patient selection in later era has mitigated the risk of autograft re-operation. Continued improved candidate selection, along with modifications in autograft implantation and root/sinotubular stabilisation techniques, may further decrease late autograft failure.
Alsoufi
Bahaaldin
B
King Faisal Heart Institute, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. balsoufi@hotmail.com
Manlhiot
Cedric
C
Fadel
Bahaa
B
Al-Ahmadi
Mamdouh
M
Tamim
Mohammad
M
McCrindle
Brian W
BW
Canver
Charles C
CC
Al-Halees
Zohair
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome