Ross procedure: medium-term results.

Introduction: The Ross procedure is a safe alternative option for aortic valve replacement in selected patients. Here we present the medium-term results of our experience with this procedure. Methods: Between December 1998 and January 2004, 21 patients (16 male, 5 female, mean age 42 years) underwent aortic valve replacement using the Ross operation. Indications for operation were aortic stenosis in 5 patients, aortic regurgitation in 5 patients, aortic stenosis and regurgitation in 9 patients, acute septic endocarditis of a native aortic valve in 1 patient and of a mechanical aortic valve in 1 patient. The root replacement technique was used in 17 patients (81%) and the subcoronary insertion technique in 4 patients (19%). Results: Hospital mortality was 4.7% (1 patient) and late mortality is zero. Mean follow up duration was 4 years (range 1-6 years). On follow up all of the patients were in New York Heart Association class I. One patient developed neo-aortic root dilatation (5.1 cm) with mild neo-aortic valve regurgitation and underwent a modified David I procedure using a Valsalva graft. None of the patients had a gradient of more than 10 mmHg through the pulmonary autograft. Sixteen patients had no aortic insufficiency, while mild aortic regurgitation developed in three patients. Pulmonary valve regurgitation developed in 11 patients (range 8-75 mmHg) but only one patient (75 mmHg) developed significant asymptomatic stenosis. Conclusions: Our experience with the Ross procedure suggests that aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft can be performed safely in adult patients. Pulmonary homograft degeneration requiring reintervention might be a rare complication.