Objective: Commonly the Ross operation is performed in children and young adults with isolated aortic valve disease. We report our experience with patients after aortic valve replacement according to the Ross technique in combination with concomitant cardiac procedures.
Methods: From 1994 to 2005, two hundred and eighty-one patients received the Ross procedure. Seventy-four of them (26%) required additional cardiac surgery. The mean age was 55±10 years (range 28–70 years) and mean logistic euroSCORE was 6.5% (range 1.5 to 55.9%). Sixty-three patients required one, nine patients two and two patients three additional procedures. Twenty-three patients received coronary bypass grafting, 30 patients treatment of the ascending aorta, 26 patients mitral valve treatment, six patients left atrial high frequency ablation and seven patients other procedures.
Results: Follow up was 100% completed. Operative mortality was 4% (3/76). Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 164±43 minutes (range 96–380 minutes). ICU stay was 2±2 days (range 0.5–12.0 days). Hospital stay was 11±8 days. Six patients required a reoperation at the pulmonary valve. In two patients, reoperation of the aortic valve was needed at 6.5 and 14 months postoperatively. The hemodynamic performance of the neo-aortic valve was excellent, showing a pressure gradient of 5.9±1.5mm Hg. The hemodynamic performance of the pulmonary valve showed pressure gradients of 5.0±1.2mm Hg. No late mortality was seen.
Conclusions: The Ross-operation in combination with concomitant cardiac procedures is technically possible without increased mortality and morbidity.
