Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after the Ross procedure: a report from the German-Dutch Ross Registry.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study is to report major cardiac and cerebrovascular events after the Ross procedure in the large adult and pediatric population of the German-Dutch Ross registry. These data could provide an additional basis for discussions among physicians and a source of information for patients.


RESULTS
One thousand six hundred twenty patients (1420 adults; 1211 male; mean age, 39.2±16.2 years) underwent a Ross procedure between 1988 and 2008. Follow-up was performed on an annual basis (median, 6.2 years; 10 747 patient-years). Early and late mortality were 1.2% (n=19) and 3.6% (n=58; 0.54%/patient-year), respectively. Ninety-three patients underwent 99 reinterventions on the autograft (0.92%/patient-year); 78 reinterventions in 63 patients on the pulmonary conduit were performed (0.73%/patient-year). Freedom from autograft or pulmonary conduit reoperation was 98.2%, 95.1%, and 89% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Preoperative aortic regurgitation and the root replacement technique without surgical autograft reinforcement were associated with a greater hazard for autograft reoperation. Major internal or external bleeding occurred in 17 (0.15%/patient-year), and a total of 38 patients had composite end point of thrombosis, embolism, or bleeding (0.35%/patient-year). Late endocarditis with medical (n=16) or surgical treatment (n=29) was observed in 38 patients (0.38%/patient-year). Freedom from any valve-related event was 94.9% at 1 year, 90.7% at 5 years, and 82.5% at 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Although longer follow-up of patients who undergo Ross operation is needed, the present series confirms that the autograft procedure is a valid option to treat aortic valve disease in selected patients. The nonreinforced full root technique and preoperative aortic regurgitation are predictors for autograft failure and warrant further consideration. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00708409.
Sievers
Hans-H
HH
University of Luebeck, Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Luebeck, Germany.
Stierle
Ulrich
U
Charitos
Efstratios I
EI
Hanke
Thorsten
T
Misfeld
Martin
M
Matthias Bechtel
J F
JF
Gorski
Armin
A
Franke
Ulrich F W
UF
Graf
Bernhard
B
Robinson
Derek R
DR
Bogers
Ad J J C
AJ
Dodge-Khatami
Ali
A
Boehm
Juergen O
JO
Rein
Joachim G
JG
Botha
Cornelius A
CA
Lange
Ruediger
R
Hoerer
Juergen
J
Moritz
Anton
A
Wahlers
Thorsten
T
Breuer
Martin
M
Ferrari-Kuehne
Katharina
K
Hetzer
Roland
R
Huebler
Michael
M
Ziemer
Gerhard
G
Takkenberg
Johanna J M
JJ
Hemmer
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D012042:Registries; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous