Midterm results of the Ross procedure

Objective: The lack of durable bioprosthetic valves and the inherent risks associated with anticoagulation for mechanical valves have led to the continued use of the Ross procedure, particularly in the pediatric population. Methods: We have reviewed our mid-term results retrospectively, following the Ross operation in both pediatric and adult groups. Results: Over a 11-year period from August 1991 to August 2002, 60 patients underwent the Ross procedure. The median age was 15 years (6–804 months), of which 63% were males and 55% were under the age of 20 years. The main indications were: aortic stenosis in 47 patients; aortic insufficiency in 6 patients; and mixed aortic valve disease in 28 patients. Fifteen patients had previously undergone balloon dilatation of the aortic valve, 4 had open valvotomy and 3 had both valvuloplasty procedures. The pulmonary autograft was implanted as a sub-coronary implant until 1995 (30%) after which time it was implanted using a partial inclusion cylinder technique (70%). There have been no deaths reported in this series. Over a median follow-up period of 59 months (2–122 months), there have been four re-operations for repair of autograft leak, and 2 adult patients have had autograft replacements. Conclusions: Despite the increased technical complexity, the Ross procedure can be performed safely in both paediatric and adult populations with satisfactory medium term results.     

Ross手术的临床应用现状

Ross手术自1967年应用于临床以来，已被用于各种原因引起的主动脉瓣狭窄、左心室流出道梗阻和二尖瓣病变。Ross手术经历了诸如根部置换、圆筒形包埋技术、瓣环缩小技术、Ross—Konno手术和自体肺动脉瓣二尖瓣置换术（Ross—Kabbani手术或RossⅡ手术）。由于自体肺动脉瓣有不需抗凝、大小适宜、能存活、生长和长期耐久的特性，并具有良好的血流动力学表现和对细菌性心内膜炎有抵抗力的优点，尤其适用于妊娠期妇女、儿童和青少年。现就Ross手术的外科技术、手术指征、选择标准、外科处理主动脉瓣狭窄、左心室流出道梗阻和二尖瓣病变的临床应用进展和效果进行综述。     

Ross手术的临床应用

目的　总结主动脉瓣疾病患者行 Ross手术的临床应用经验。　方法　自 2 0 0 2年 1月至 2 0 0 2年 8月 ,对12例主动脉瓣疾病患者行 Ross手术 ,其中先天性心脏病、主动脉瓣病变 11例 ,老年退行性主动脉瓣狭窄 1例。术前所有患者均经超声心动图 (UCG)检查示主动脉瓣狭窄和 /或关闭不全 (中重度 ) ,均在全身麻醉中度低温体外循环下行 Ross手术。结果　全组患者无手术死亡 ,无并发症 ;术后主动脉瓣跨瓣压差在正常范围 ,左心室舒张期末内径(L VEDD)明显缩小 (P<0 .0 0 1) ,左心室射血分数 (L VEF) 0 .5 5± 0 .14 ,心功能 (NYHA) 级。所有患者均接受随访 ,随访 7天～ 8个月 ,心功能 ～ 级 ,主动脉瓣、肺动脉瓣功能良好。　结论　Ross手术是一种临床疗效较好的治疗主动脉瓣病变的手术方法。     

Ross手术的临床应用

目的　报告 6例Ross手术的临床经验和手术结果。方法　自 1998年 3月至 1999年 10月 ,6例主动脉瓣瓣膜疾病病人中男 3例 ,女 3例 ;年龄 4～ 38岁 ,平均 (14± 12 )岁。诊断为主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形伴狭窄 3例 ,其中 1例伴有室间隔缺损 ;主动脉瓣脱垂 2例 ;单纯主动脉瓣狭窄 1例。均接受了Ross手术。结果　无手术死亡 ,全部治愈出院 ,随访效果满意。结论　Ross手术安全、效果好 ,可适于某些主动脉瓣瓣膜病变 ,尤其适合于小儿及年轻病人     

Long-term outcomes after the paediatric Ross and Ross-Konno procedures

 Open in a separate windowOBJECTIVESThe Ross procedure is an attractive option for the management of aortic valve disease in paediatric patients. We reviewed our experience with the paediatric Ross procedure to determine survival and freedom from reoperation in the third decade after surgery.METHODSWe reviewed the data of 124 paediatric patients [71% male, median age at time of surgery 11.1 years (interquartile range 6–14.8 years); 63.7% bicuspid aortic valve], who underwent the Ross procedure at 2 tertiary centres from April 1991 to April 2020. The Ross-Konno procedures were performed on 14 (11.3%) patients. Deaths were cross-checked with the national health insurance database, and survival status was available for 96.8% of the patients. The median follow-up time was 12.1 years (interquartile range 3–18 years).RESULTSThere were 3 early and 6 late deaths. All early deaths occurred in patients aged <1 year at the time of surgery. The 25-year survival was 90.3%. Actuarial freedom from reoperation (linearized rates in parentheses) was as follows: Autograft reoperation was 90.8% (0.48%/patient-year) and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reoperation was 67% (2.07%/patient year) at 25 years. The univariable Cox-proportional hazard analysis revealed younger age at time of surgery (P < 0.001), smaller implanted valve size (P < 0.001) and the use of a xenograft rather than a homograft (P < 0.001) as predictors of RVOT reoperation. At multivariable Cox-proportional hazard analysis, only age was an independent risk factor for RVOT reoperation (P = 0.041).CONCLUSIONSThe Ross and the Ross-Konno procedures are associated with good outcomes in paediatric patients. Reoperation of the RVOT is frequent and associated with younger age.     

Anatomical mismatch of the pulmonary autograft in the aortic root may be the cause of early aortic insufficiency after the Ross procedure

Objective: Early aortic insufficiency can be a problem after the Ross procedure. Anatomical mismatch and an inexact surgical technique may lead to distortion of the normal pulmonary valve geometry and subsequent incorrect leaflet coaptation and valve insufficiency. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of changing and improving the surgical technique to minimize the early pulmonary autograft valve failure. The modifications and the strategy are discussed. Methods: From January 1995 to February 1999, a total of 77 adults underwent the Ross procedure for aortic valve replacement at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The operative technique used was full free-standing aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft in all cases. In the first 24 cases, the diameter of the pulmonary roots was seldom measured, eye-balling was used to exclude anatomical mismatch due to a dilated aortic root, and only one attempt of correction was made, which failed. In the other 53 cases, the technique was improved by: (1) reducing the aortic anulus diameter in cases with moderate dilatation; (2) excluding cases with severe dilatation of the aortic annulus; (3) adjusting the diameter of the sinotubular junction of the aorta to the diameter of the sinotubular junction of the pulmonary artery; (4). reimplanting the left ostium in the autograft, and (5) changing the proximal anastomosis technique. Results: In this study, we had an early aortic incompetence of grade 2 in eight patients among the first 24 patients. In the other 53 patients, postoperative echocardiography at 1 week revealed aortic insufficiency of grade 2 in two patients. Conclusions: Aortic insufficiency after the Ross procedure can be minimized by patient selection, intraoperative correction of anatomical mismatch and improved surgical technique.     

Ross 手术治疗先天性主动脉瓣膜疾病

目的　总结 Ross手术治疗先天性主动脉瓣膜疾病的临床经验和手术结果。　方法　自 1998年 3月至2 0 0 2年 7月 ,16例主动脉瓣膜疾病患者 (平均年龄 14 .0± 9.9岁 )接受 Ross手术 ,即自体肺动脉瓣移植术。诊断为主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形 ,主动脉瓣狭窄 9例 ,主动脉瓣发育不良呈穹隆状狭窄 2例 ;主动脉瓣脱垂 5例 ,其中合并室间隔缺损和动脉导管未闭各 1例。　结果　无手术死亡 ,全部患者治愈出院。随访 1～ 4 8个月 ,平均 30± 13个月 ,无远期死亡 ,无瓣膜相关并发症。所有患者心功能 级。超声心动图提示主动脉瓣及同种肺动脉瓣功能良好 ,仅 1例患者主动脉瓣有极少量反流 ;所有患者主动脉瓣跨瓣压差 2 .1± 0 .8mm Hg(1k Pa=7.5 mm Hg) ,左心室流出道及主动脉瓣环随着年龄的生长而增长 ,平均瓣环直径较术后增加 4 .0± 2 .1mm。　结论　 Ross手术治疗主动脉瓣膜疾病安全 ,效果好 ,随机体发育而生长 ,可适于某些主动脉瓣瓣膜疾病 ,尤其适于小儿及年轻患者。     

Caesarean delivery in a parturient with a femoro-femoral crossover graft and congenital aortic stenosis repaired by the Ross procedure

We report a case of a patient with congenital aortic stenosis previously repaired using the Ross procedure, who presented to our unit for urgent caesarean delivery. Management was complicated by moderate residual cardiac disease and the presence of a suprapubic femoro-femoral crossover graft. Following application of five-lead electrocardiogram and invasive blood pressure monitoring, anaesthesia was induced via combined spinal-epidural with epidural volume extension. A high transverse surgical approach avoided the course of the vascular graft, while further precautions included the immediate availability of vascular surgeons and cell salvage. Our anaesthetic technique was tailored to minimise disruption to cardiovascular function, and in particular to limit regurgitant flow across the pulmonary valve. This case highlights the value of early identification of high-risk parturients and multidisciplinary involvement at delivery. Risk stratification in the patient with grown-up congenital heart disease is based upon timely evaluation of the underlying congenital pathology, surgical history and subsequent functional status.     

The Ross procedure: state of the art 2011

The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature and practice of the Ross concept of using the autologous pulmonary valve to replace a diseased aortic valve. The potential advantages and disadvantages of these operations will be evaluated in the context of alternative options and relative risks. The different surgical techniques of subcoronary and full root methods will be discussed and important technical aspects reviewed. Long-term outcomes will be described to the extent these are available, including recent publications describing a survival advantage for the Ross. Brief discussions will be presented regarding hemodynamics, child-bearing, endocarditis, and the use of the Ross in pediatric patients as well as biological adaptability of the living pulmonary autograft.     

Anesthetic management for severe aortic regurgitation in an infant repaired by Ross procedure

We report the anesthetic management of a 7-month-old male infant with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) scheduled for the Ross procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from the viewpoint of anesthetic management for the Ross procedure performed in an infant. He had been suffering from severe AR that occurred suddenly when he was 5 months old. The cause of the AR was considered to be spontaneous rupture of a fenestrated aortic valve, owing to congenital tissue defect in part of the aortic valvular leaflet. The Ross procedure was scheduled to be performed under general anesthesia using deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Continuous infusion of nitroglycerin was started during CPB and continued after CPB to dilate the newly implanted coronary arteries for the prevention of myocardial ischemia and to decrease afterload and pulmonary vascular resistance. Weaning from CPB was performed without difficulty, but after the prolonged CPB he had a bleeding tendency that needed transfusion and a hemostatic drug. Monitoring with transesophageal echocardiography was very useful for evaluating myocardial ischemia, and for assessing the procedure and the completion of surgical repair. His postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on the 25th postoperative day.     

Mid-term results of the Ross procedure

Methods: Fifty patients underwent a Ross operation between June 1991 and October 1996. Preoperative diagnosis was: congenital aortic valve disease (31 patients), complex left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (11 patients), outgrowth of a small aortic valve prosthesis (five patients) and valve endocarditis (three patients). Half of the interventions were reoperations. All operations were root replacements. A pulmonary homograft was used in 45 patients. An aorticoventriculoplasty was combined with the root replacement in the 16 patients with LVOT obstruction and a too small aortic valve prosthesis. An enlargement or reduction plasty of the ascending aorta was necessary in seven patients. Results: The mean age was 20.9 years (range: 2.5–54 years). The mean follow up was 34.2±21 months and was 94% complete. Two patients died after 8 days (low cardiac output due to myocardial fibrosis) and 17.4 months (sudden death), respectively, resulting in a survival of 95±4% at 4 years. Those two deaths occurred in the group of patients undergoing Ross procedure and aorticoventriculoplasty. Two autografts were replaced after respectively 2 days (technical failure) and 44 months (progressive root dilatation) resulting in a reoperation-free incidence of 93±6% at 4 years. Other postoperative major complications occurred in six patients. All survivors had regular echo-Doppler examination. All autografts except one had a systolic gradient below 10 mmHg at the last examination. Thirty-four autografts had no leak, ten showed grade 1–2 regurgitation. Two patients showed a higher than grade 3 regurgitation: one leak remains stable with normal left ventricular dimensions and function, one autograft was replaced by a mechanical valve. Conclusion: This experience demonstrates that the medium-term results of the Ross procedure are excellent even in complex LVOT obstructions.     

Long-term results of homograft valves in extracardiac conduits

Between 1971 and 1986, 335 patients received various extracardiac valved conduits between one of the heart chambers and the pulmonary arteries. The group of patients who received aortic homograft conduits and survived the operation were analysed in detail. The age varied between 9 days and 18 years (mean 7.1 ± 0.7 years), weight 2.4 kg–63.5 kg (mean 17.8 ± 10.8 kg). The diameter of the conduit used was 10–30 mm (mean 20.8 mm). Multivariate analysis revealed a highly significant model (P < 0.005) which showed that the time interval between harvesting and use of the homograft (P < 0.02) and the earlier date of operation (P < 0.05) were the major risk factors for obstruction. Homografts used within 3 weeks of harvesting had freedom from obstruction of 79% at 8 years; homografts used between 3–6 weeks had freedom from obstruction of only 55% at 8 years. Homografts used alone performed significantly better than those extended with woven Dacron tubes. At 10 years, 93% of homografts used alone were free of obstruction compared to 52% of homografts extended with a Dacron tube. We conclude that aortic homografts used within 3 weeks of harvesting provide a reasonably durable conduit for a period of 12 years. Longer storage, and extension of the homograft with a woven Dacron tube should be avoided.     

Long-term results of valve replacement using antibiotic-sterilised homografts in the aortic position

Objective.

Antibiotic-sterilised homograft valves stored at 4 °C have been implanted in the subcoronary position in this unit since 1973. This study was undertaken in order to assess the longterm function of these valves.

Methods.

All 249 patients undergoing homograft aortic valve replacement (AVR) at the Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre between April 1973 and December 1994 were studied. Homograft valve sizes ranged from 15 mm to 28 mm internal diameter, 202 (81.1%) varying between 18 mm and 22 mm. The mean patient follow-up was 12.4 years with a total follow-up of 3096 patient-years. There were six early deaths (2.4%).

Results.

On actuarial analysis, survival was 78.5 ± 2.7% (1SE) at 10 years, 65.7 ± 3.3% at 15 years and 55.0 ± 3.9% at 20 years. The freedom from redo AVR was 87.9 ± 2.4% at 10 years, 71.7 ± 3.8% at 15 years and 49.7 ± 5.6% at 20 years. The freedom from structural degeneration was 85.5 ± 2.5% at 10 years, 63.6 ± 4.0% at 15 years and 41.9 ± 6.4% at 20 years. On multivariate analysis the risk of valve failure was significantly higher in younger patients (P < 0.0001) and in those who underwent aortic root tailoring (P = 0.024). The freedom from endocarditis was 98.4 ± 0.9% at 10 years, 96.2 ± 1.6% at 15 years and 95.1 ± 1.9% at 20 years. Of the 249 patients, 218 had an isolated homograft AVR and were not anticoagulated. In this group there were two possible thromboembolic events.

Conclusion.

As well as the established haemodynamic benefits, this study has shown that homograft AVR with antibiotic-sterilised 4 °C stored homograft valves implanted in the subcoronary position, offers good long-term results.     

幼儿先天性心脏病术后主动脉夹层1例

正患儿男,4岁,出生时确诊先天性室间隔缺损。3岁时于外院行室间隔修补术后康复出院。1个月前来我院常规复查,超声心动图疑似主动脉夹层。主动脉CTA:主动脉于冠窦上方层面至降主动脉左心房下缘水平,可见管腔呈双腔样改变,内见螺旋状撕裂内膜片(图1A、1B),较大破口紧贴主动脉冠窦上方,宽约11.3 mm(图1C、1D),诊断为DeBakey I型主动脉夹层。     

52例婴幼儿先天性心脏病术后死因的尸检病理分析

目的：从病理学角度分析婴幼儿先天性心脏病术后死亡原因。方法：收集３岁以内先天笥心脏病尸检病例５２例，核查心脏畸形、矫治情况和组织学改变，分析其死因。结果：手术病死率４．６８％，尸检率３０．０６％，诊断符合率８４．６２％。主要死因为：心肌急性缺血性损伤、手术创伤或误伤各９例、原狭窄解除不或新建通道不畅８例、肺出血、透明膜形成６例、支气管痰堵４例、肺水肿３例、残留畸形、肺炎、肺发育不良各２例、肺动脉高     

Aortic root physiology late after a "perfect" ross operation: magnetic resonance imaging study of three operative techniques

In order to define physiological properties of the autograft root, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings relative to three different operative techniques were compared with those of control subjects. Twenty-three patients, 18/5 M/F, aged 32 ± 9 years, underwent MRI assessment of the aortic root. Patients with normally functioning autograft valve and at least 4 years of follow-up (average 5.6 ± 1.9, range 4-10 years) were selected for each technique: six subcoronary (Group 1), nine inclusion (Group 2), and eight freestanding root (Group 3). Results were compared among patient groups and with seven control subjects, 6/1 M/F, aged 30 ± 2 years (P = ns). Morphological and functional properties were defined using transverse and paracoronal views, during systole and diastole. Mean aortic size in each group was greater than control, except for the LV-aortic junction and the sinus of Valsalva in Group 1 (26 ± 5 vs. 23 ± 3 mm, P = 0.2 and 33 ± 6 vs. 30 ± 5 mm, P = 0.3). Aortic valve plane rotation (P = 0.02) and root dilatation (P = 0.02) were more common in Group 3. Altered valve opening dynamics and asymmetrical aortic flow profile were also more common in Group 2 (P = 0.03) and Group 3 (P = 0.04). Distensibility was significantly reduced at sinus level in Group 2 and 3 compared with control (4.1 ± 3.5% and 3.6 ± 4.4% vs. 9.0 ± 4.7%, P = 0.03). Asymmetrical aortic flow profile was more common in patients with aortic dilatation (P = 0.05) and with severely reduced (<4%) root elasticity (P = 0.06). Among the three techniques, only subcoronary grafting allows preservation of physiological autograft valve dynamics, aortic flow and distensibility, at all root levels, late after operation. These findings may have relevant implications in the selection of the ideal Ross technique.     

Treatment of aortic valve endocarditis with the Ross operation

Objective: Standard treatment of patients with infective endocarditis is radical debridement and valve replacement, in cases with advanced pathology the treatment is usually root replacement with either a composite graft or a homograft. Enthusiasm for the use of the Ross operation in non-infective aortic valve disease is increasing, but use of the pulmonary autograft in the treatment of aortic valve endocarditis has been limited. The objective of this prospective study is to present the technique and results of our experience with aortic valve endocarditis treated with the Ross operation. Materials and methods: Since 1992 we have treated 35 patients (median age 41 years, range 6–71 years) having aortic valve endocarditis with a Ross operation. Twenty-four patients had advanced disease defined as pathology due to endocarditis extending beyond the valve cusps (13 patients) or prosthetic valve endocarditis (11 patients). Twenty-two patients had active disease at the time of surgery, and 12 had undergone one to four previous heart operations. Results: There were two operative deaths (5.8%), both related to severe disease with very advanced pathology and heart failure. Intraoperative echocardiography demonstrated no or trivial autograft insufficiency in all patients. There have been no late deaths. There has been one (probable) recurrent right-sided endocarditis in a drug addict during a follow-up period of 3–56 months. One patient has been reoperated on for homograft stenosis. Conclusions: We are enthusiastic about the use of the Ross operation in aortic valve endocarditis and in younger patients with advanced pathology, it is our preferred treatment modality. Following removal of the autograft, unparalleled exposure of the left ventricular outflow tract is obtained. Even in patients with very advanced pathology the left ventricular outflow tract is usually intact, allowing autograft implantation in the standard fashion. For selected patients with simple endocarditis, the Ross operation is an attractive option on its usual merits.