Twenty-year analysis of autologous support of the pulmonary autograft in the ross procedure

Abstract

Background: The Ross procedure is seldom offered to adults less than 60 years of age who require aortic valve replacement except in a few high-volume centers with documented expertise. Inserting the pulmonary autograft as an unsupported root replacement may lead to increasing reoperations on the aortic valve in the second decade. Methods: Of 333 patients undergoing the Ross procedure between October 1992 and June 2012, the study group of 310 consecutive patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 39.3 ± 12.7 years (limits 16-63) had the aortic root size adjusted to match the pulmonary autograft, which was inserted as a root replacement, with the aorta closed up around it to provide autologous s..