Ross Procedure Research Articles

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement after previous Ross procedure.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement after previous Ross procedure.

The Ross Operation in Young Patients: A 15-Year Experience Focused on Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit Outcomes.

Data on long-term outcomes of the Ross operation in children and young adult patients are limited. The best pulmonary valve substitute for the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in the Ross operation in young patients using various pulmonary valve substitutes at a single institution. In addition, a comparison of reintervention rates between patients younger than 18 years and those older than 18 years was performed. The study assessed all patients (N= 110) who underwent the Ross operation at the University Hospital of Bordeaux, France, between 2004 and2020. The median follow-up time was 4.2 years, and the median age at operation was 15.9 years. There was no operative mortality and 1 late noncardiac death (0.8%). The overall survival rate at 10 years was 99.2%. The need for right ventricular outflow tract reoperation was lower with the pulmonary homograft compared with the Contegra conduit and Freestyle bioprosthesis: 94.3%, 93.8%, and 80% at 5 years, respectively, and 94.3%, 72.3%, and 34.3% at 10 years, respectively (P= 0.011). The probability of reintervention was not significantly different at 10 years among children vs adults (P= 0.22). The Ross procedure in children and young adults was associated with a lower requirement for right ventricular outflow tract reoperation when pulmonary homografts were used instead of xenografts.

Aortic valve surgery in the pediatric population: pathophysiology, clinical features and management.

There are several conditions where the function of the aortic valve can be compromised in the pediatric population. The aortic valve is composed of three leaflets which are thin and mobile and are attached to the aortic sinuses. Each leaflet is made up of connective tissue, forming a highly ordered network of extracellular matrix components. Together, this enables the aortic valve to open and close more than 100,000 times throughout the day. However, there are conditions where the structure of the aortic valve can be compromised resulting in its function being affected. Conditions such as congenital valvular aortic stenosis and abnormal valve morphology including bicuspid valves often necessitate intervention to improve symptoms and quality of life in children. Other conditions which result in requiring surgical intervention include infective endocarditis and trauma. In this article, we present the common forms of aortic valve disease in the pediatric population and the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of these. We also discuss the range of management options including medical management and percutaneous intervention. Surgical interventions such as Aortic annular enlargement techniques, the Ross procedure and the Ozaki procedure will also be discussed. The effectiveness, complications and long-term outcomes associated with these methods will be explored.

British Society for Haematology guideline for anticoagulantmanagement of pregnant individuals with mechanical heart valves.

British Society for Haematology guideline for anticoagulantmanagement of pregnant individuals with mechanical heart valves.

Autograft Reoperations after the Ross Procedure.

After a Ross procedure, autograft failure can occur. At reoperation, repair of the autograft preserves the advantages of the Ross procedure. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess mid-term results after reoperation of a failed autograft. Between 1997 and 2022, 30 consecutive patients (83% male; age 41 ± 11years) underwent autograft reintervention between 60 days and 24 years (median 10 years) after a Ross procedure. The initial technique varied, full-root replacement (n = 25) being the most frequent. The indication for reoperation was isolated autograft regurgitation (n = 7), root dilatation (>43mm) with (n = 17) or without (n = 2) autograft regurgitation, mixed dysfunction (n = 2), and endocarditis (n = 2). In 4 instances, the valve was replaced by valve (n = 1) or combined valve and root replacement (n = 3). Valve-sparing procedures consisted of isolated valve repair (n = 7) or root replacement (n = 19), and tubular aortic replacement. Cusp repair was performed in all but two. Mean follow-up was 5.4 ± 6years [35 days to 24 years]. Mean cross-clamp and perfusion times were 74 ± 26 min and 132 ± 64 min. There were 2 perioperative deaths (7%; both valve replacement) and two patients died late (32 days to 1.2 years postoperatively). Freedom from cardiac death at 10 years was 96% after valve repair and 50% after replacement.Two patients required reoperation 1.68 and 16 years following repair. One underwent valve replacement for cusp perforation, the other, root remodelling for dilatation. Freedom from autograft reintervention at 15 years was 95%. Autograft reoperations after the Ross procedure can be performed as valve-sparing operations in the majority of cases. With valve-sparing, long-term survival and freedom from reoperation are excellent.

Ross versus Repair for Treatment of the Unicuspid Aortic Valve in Adults.

Aortic stenosis or regurgitation in patients with a unicuspid valve morphology require interventions early in life. We have performed either primary valve repair or the Ross procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the mid-term results of repair and pulmonary autograft replacement. Between 12/1998 and 04/2022, 345 patients (77% male; mean age 34±9.7 years) underwent treatment of a unicuspid aortic valve. Patients were excluded if they were <18 years (n = 84) or > 54 years (n = 3) at the time of the operation. The remaining cohort was divided into 2 groups: 167 (64%) patients underwent valve repair, 91 (36%) patients underwent pulmonary autograft replacement.The indications for surgery were aortic regurgitation (n = 104), aortic stenosis (n = 45), combined disease (n = 103), and endocarditis (n = 6). Fifty-one patients had root dilatation (>43mm) with aortic regurgitation (repair n = 23; Ross n = 28). Mean follow-up was 5.9 (SD: 5 years) [range 0.1 to 22.3 years]. There was 1 early, 3 late deaths, and 47 patients required reintervention. Survival at 10 years was 95% in the Ross group and 97% after valve repair (p = 0.769). Freedom from reintervention at 10 years was 98% in the Ross group and 80% after valve repair (p = 0.012). A ROC curve analysis showed a trend towards better durability in patients < 26 years. The ideal treatment of the unicuspid aortic valve remains debatable. Repair of a unicuspid valve can be considered a bridge to pulmonary autograft replacement, at least in younger patients. The appropriate time when to replace and when to repair requires further investigation.

Physical and Mental Recovery after Aortic Valve Surgery in Non-Elderly Patients: Native Valve-Preserving Surgery vs. Prosthetic Valve Replacement.

Background: Exercise capacity and patient-reported outcomes are increasingly considered crucial following aortic valve (AV) surgery in non-elderly adults. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the effect of native valve preservation compared with prosthetic valve replacement. Methods: From October 2017 to August 2020, 100 consecutive non-elderly patients undergoing surgery for severe AV disease were included. Exercise capacity and patient-reported outcomes were evaluated upon admission, and 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. Results: In total, 72 patients underwent native valve-preserving procedures (AV repair or Ross procedure, NV group), and 28 patients, prosthetic valve replacement (PV group). Native valve preservation was associated with an increased risk of reoperation (weighted hazard ratio: 10.57 (95% CI: 1.24-90.01), p = 0.031). The estimated average treatment effect on six-minute walking distance in NV patients at 1 year was positive, but not significant (35.64 m; 95% CI: -17.03-88.30, adj. p = 0.554). The postoperative physical and mental quality of life was comparable in both groups. Peak oxygen consumption and work rate were better at all assessment time points in NV patients. Marked longitudinal improvements in walking distance (NV, +47 m (adj. p < 0.001); PV, +25 m (adj. p = 0.004)) and physical (NV, +7 points (adj. p = 0.023); PV, +10 points (adj. p = 0.005)) and mental quality of life (NV, +7 points (adj. p < 0.001); PV, +5 points (adj. p = 0.058)) from the preoperative period to the 1-year follow-up were observed. At 1 year, there was a tendency of more NV patients reaching reference values of walking distance. Conclusions: Despite the increased risk of reoperation, physical and mental performance markedly improved after native valve-preserving surgery and was comparable to that after prosthetic aortic valve replacement.

Exvivo biomechanical analysis of the Ross procedure using the modified inclusion technique in a 3-dimensionally printed left heart simulator.

The inclusion technique was developed to reinforce the pulmonary autograft to prevent dilation after the Ross procedure. Anticommissural plication (ACP), a modification technique, can reduce graft size and create neosinuses. The objective was to evaluate pulmonary valve biomechanics using the inclusion technique in the Ross procedure with and without ACP. Seven porcine and 5 human pulmonary autografts were harvested from hearts obtained from a meat abattoir and from heart transplant recipients and donors, respectively. Five additional porcine autografts without reinforcement were used as controls. The Ross procedure was performed using the inclusion technique with a straight polyethylene terephthalate graft. The same specimens were tested both with and without ACP. Hemodynamic parameter data, echocardiography, and high-speed videography were collected via the exvivo heart simulator. Porcine autograft regurgitation was significantly lower after the use of inclusion technique compared with controls (P<.01). ACP compared with non-ACP in both porcine and human pulmonary autografts was associated with lower leaflet rapid opening velocity (3.9±2.4cm/sec vs 5.9±2.4cm/sec; P=.03; 3.5±0.9cm/sec vs 4.4±1.0cm/sec; P=.01), rapid closing velocity (1.9±1.6cm/sec vs 3.1±2.0cm/sec; P=.01; 1.8±0.7cm/sec vs 2.2±0.3cm/sec; P=.13), relative rapid opening force (4.6±3.0 vs 7.7±5.2; P=.03; 3.0±0.6 vs 4.0±2.1; P=.30), and relative rapid closing force (2.5±3.4 vs 5.9±2.3; P=.17; 1.4±1.3 vs 2.3±0.6; P=.25). The Ross procedure using the inclusion technique demonstrated excellent hemodynamic parameter results. The ACP technique was associated with more favorable leaflet biomechanics. Invivo validation should be performed to allow direct translation to clinical practice.

Aortic Valve Surgery in Children With Infective Endocarditis

There is limited data on the outcomes of children who undergo surgery for aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE), and the optimal surgical approach remains controversial. We investigated the long-term outcomes of surgery for aortic valve IE in children, with a particular focus on the Ross procedure. A retrospective review of all children who underwent surgery for aortic valve IE was performed at a single institution. Between 1989 and 2020, 41 children underwent surgery for aortic valve IE, of whom 16 (39.0%) underwent valve repair, 13 (31.7%) underwent the Ross procedure, 9 (21.9%) underwent a homograft root replacement, and 3 (7.3%) underwent a mechanical valve replacement. Median age was 10.1 years (interquartile range, 5.4-14.1). The majority of children (82.9%, 34/41) had underlying congenital heart disease, while 39.0% (16/41) had previous heart surgery. Operative mortality was 0.0% (0/16) for repair, 15.4% (2/13) for the Ross procedure, 33.3% (3/9) for homograft root replacement, and 33.3% (1/3) for mechanical replacement. Survival at 10 years was 87.5% for repair, 74.1% for Ross, and 66.7% for homograft (P > 0.05). Freedom from reoperation at 10 years was 30.8% for repair, 63.0% for Ross, and 26.3% for homograft (P=0.15 for Ross vs repair, P=0.002 for Ross vs homograft). Children undergoing surgery for aortic valve IE have acceptable long-term survival, although the need for long-term reintervention is significant. The Ross procedure appears to be the optimal choice when repair is not feasible.

Partial Heart Transplantation in Adult Cardiac Surgery.

Many young adults require heart valve replacements. Current options for valve replacement in adults include mechanical valves, bioprosthetic valves, or the Ross procedure. Of these, mechanical and bioprosthetic valves are the most common options, although mechanical valve usage predominates in younger adults due to durability, while bioprosthetic valve usage predominates in older adults. Partial heart transplantation is a new method of valvular replacement that can deliver durable and self-repairing valves and allow adult patients freedom from anticoagulation therapy. This procedure involves transplantation of donor heart valves only, permitting expanded utilization of donor hearts as compared with orthotopic heart transplantation. In this review, we discuss the potential benefits of this procedure in adults who elect against the anticoagulation regimen required of mechanical valve replacements, although it has not yet been clinically established. Partial heart transplantation is a promising new therapy for the treatment of pediatric valvular dysfunction. This is a novel technique in the adult population with potential utility for valve replacement in young patients for whom anticoagulation therapy is problematic, such as women who wish to become pregnant, patients with bleeding disorders, and patients with active lifestyles.

Formal consensus study on surgery to replace the aortic valve in adults aged 18–60 years

ObjectiveThere is uncertainty about surgical procedures for adult patients aged 18–60 years undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Options include conventional AVR (mechanical, mAVR; tissue, tAVR), the pulmonary autograft (Ross) and...

Computational modeling reveals inflammation-driven dilatation of the pulmonary autograft in aortic position.

The pulmonary autograft in the Ross procedure, where the aortic valve is replaced by the patient's own pulmonary valve, is prone to failure due to dilatation. This is likely caused by tissue degradation and maladaptation, triggered by the higher experienced mechanical loads in aortic position. In order to further grasp the causes of dilatation, this study presents a model for tissue growth and remodeling of the pulmonary autograft, using the homogenized constrained mixture theory and equations for immuno- and mechano-mediated mass turnover. The model outcomes, compared to experimental data from an animal model of the pulmonary autograft in aortic position, show that inflammation likely plays an important role in the mass turnover of the tissue constituents and therefore in the autograft dilatation over time. We show a better match and prediction of long-term outcomes assuming immuno-mediated mass turnover, and show that there is no linear correlation between the stress-state of the material and mass production. Therefore, not only mechanobiological homeostatic adaption should be taken into account in the development of growth and remodeling models for arterial tissue in similar applications, but also inflammatory processes.

Management and clinical outcomes of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesteremia in Saudi Arabia.

We report the incidence, patient characteristic with clinical outcomes in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective and prospective, single center study which included 37 patients 14 years and older enrolled and followed up between 2018-2021 for three years. 46% were females, 78% were offspring of consanguineous marriage. LDLR mutation was in 78% and LDL-C/LDLRAP in 3% of patients. Mean LDL-C at the first presentation was 14.2±3.7 mmol/L, average Dutch lipid score was 20.9±6.24. LDL apheresis was performed on 70% of patients. Most patients were on ezetimibe (92%), high-dose statins ( 84%) and PCSK9 inhibitors (32%). 48.6% had aortic stenosis, out of which 30% had severe aortic stenosis. Ten underwent aortic valve surgery (5 mechanical valve, 3 Ross procedure, 1 aortic valve repair, 1 bioprosthetic valve) and one had transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) was performed on 32% and percutaneous intervention (PCI) on 11% of patients. HoFH patients have complex diseases with high morbidity and mortality, and benefit from a highly specialized multidisciplinary clinic to address their clinical needs. Although there are several therapeutic agents on the horizon, early diagnosis, and treatment of HoFH remain critical to optimize patient outcomes.

Outcomes after the Ross procedure with pulmonary autograft reinforcement by reimplantation.

Pulmonary autograft reinforcement to prevent dilatation and subsequent neo-aortic valve regurgitation has been reported; however, data on long-term function of the neo-aortic valve after this modified Ross procedure are lacking. Our objective here was to assess long-term outcomes of the modified Ross procedure with autograft reinforcement using the reimplantation technique. The outcomes of 61 consecutive patients managed using the Dacron-conduit reinforced Ross procedure between 2009 and 2021 were reviewed. Most patients had a unicuspid or bicuspid aortic valve (n=52; 85%), predominant aortic valve regurgitation (n=42; 77%), and >30mm dilatation of the ascending aorta (n=33; 54%). A prior aortic valve procedure was noted in 47 patients (77%) patients, including 38 (62%) with surgical repair and 9 (15%) with balloon dilatation. The pulmonary autograft was reimplanted within a Dacron conduit with a median diameter of 25.6mm (range, 20-30mm) using the David valve-sparing aortic root replacement technique. All patients survived. The median age at surgery was 16.8years (range, 6-38years). Neo-aortic valve replacement was required in 3 patients (4.9%; 95% CI, 0.34%- 12.7%) because of infective endocarditis, left ventricular false aneurysm, and leaflet perforation, respectively; the repeat procedure was done early in 2 of these patients (2 of 61; 3%). Six patients required right ventricular outflow conduit replacement, 5 by surgery and 1 percutaneously. The median duration of follow-up was 90months (range, 10-124months). The 5- and 10-year rates of reintervention-free survival were 84.3% (95% CI, 74%-95%) and 81.6% (95% CI, 72%-93%), respectively, and 5-year survival without aortic reintervention was 94.5% (95% CI, 88%-100%), with little change at 10years. No patients experienced deterioration of initial neo-aortic valve function (ie, regurgitation or stenosis). Autograft reinforcement using the reimplantation technique allowed expansion of Ross procedure indications to all patients requiring aortic valve replacement and prevented neo-aortic root dilatation. Failures were uncommon. Long-term follow-up data showed stable neo-aortic valve function.

Aortic Root Surgery in Adults: An Unsolved Problem

Nowadays, despite the rapid advancements in interventional cardiology, open surgery still deals with aortic root diseases, to assure the best "ad hoc" treatment. In case of middle-aged adult patients, the optimal operation still represents a matter of debate. A review of the last 10-year literature was conducted, focusing on patients below 65 to 70 years of age. Because of the small sample and the heterogeneity of the papers, no metanalysis was possible. Bentall-de Bono procedure, valve sparing, and Ross operations are the surgical options currently available. The main issues in the Bentall - de Bono operation are lifelong anticoagulation therapy and cavitation in case of mechanical prosthesis implantation and structural valve degeneration in case of biological Bentall. As transcatheter procedures are currently performed as valve in valve, biological prosthesis may be preferable, if the diameter may prevent postoperative high gradients. Conservative techniques, such as remodeling and reimplantation, preferred in the young, guarantee physiologic aortic root dynamics and impose surgical analysis of the aortic root structures to get a durable result. The Ross operation, which shows excellent performance, involves autologous pulmonary valve implantation and is performed only in experienced and high-volume centers. Due to its technical difficulty, it requires a steep learning curve and presents some limitations in specific aortic valve diseases. All three have advantages and downsides, and no ideal solution has still been reported.

The Ross operation after removal of a transcatheter aortic valve replacement in pediatric patients.

The Ross operation after removal of a transcatheter aortic valve replacement in pediatric patients.

The Ross Procedure in Adolescence and Beyond: Are There Still Contraindications?

The Ross procedure is an excellent operation to treat children and adults with aortic valve disease. Compared to prosthetic aortic valve replacement, it provides important clinical benefits in terms of survival, hemodynamics, freedom from valve-related complications, and durability, especially in women of childbearing age. However, the Ross procedure is a longer and technically more challenging operation. As a result, the choice of procedure should be driven by patient anatomy and clinical characteristics. This highlights the importance of concentrating care in Ross reference centers where surgical expertise and experience are present to ensure patient safety and long-term effectiveness of the operation. This manuscript reviews the major and relative contraindications to the Ross procedure.

Strategies for Complex Reoperative Aortic Arch Reconstruction in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.

Aortic dilation is common in patients with congenital heart disease including those with a bicuspid aortic valve, connective tissue disease, coarctation of the aorta, and conotruncal defects. In addition, neo-aortic dilation has been described in patients after aortic reconstruction including the Norwood procedure, the arterial switch operation, and the Ross procedure. Although aortic catastrophe is rare in patients with congenital heart disease, common pathologic endpoints in these patients likely manifest with similar aortic tissue behavior. A lifelong care model with similar indications for surveillance and prophylactic repair to other more common aortopathies is therefore warranted. Still, reoperative aortic arch reconstruction in these patients is often a complex and high-risk endeavor, and in all cases, a tailored and adaptable plan ensuring adequate myocardial and cerebral protection with appropriate rescue measures is paramount. A surgical team taking on these challenging cases should possess an armamentarium of open, hybrid, and endovascular techniques which can be individualized to a patient's unique anatomy, surgical history, and concomitant lesions as well as the team's measured outcomes and experience.

Ten-year results of the Ross procedure in patients with infective endocarditis: a single-center retrospective study

Ten-year results of the Ross procedure in patients with infective endocarditis: a single-center retrospective study

Redo aortic root surgery post-Ross procedure.

Despite numerous advantages of the Ross procedure, it presents a risk of late autograft and right ventricular outflow tract conduit failure. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of autograft dysfunction reoperations using autograft-sparing and root replacement techniques. Between 2015 and 2023, 49 patients underwent redo root surgery in our institution. Autograft valve-sparing procedures (VSP) were performed in 20 cases and the Bentall procedure (BP) in 29 patients. The short and long-term clinical outcomes along with echocardiographic results of VSP and BP were investigated. Overall early mortality rate was 2.0% with no significant difference between the groups. Severe autograft valve insufficiency at the time of redo (OR 4.07, P = 0.03) and patient age (OR 1.07, P = 0.04) were associated with a valve replacement procedure instead of VSP. The median follow-up duration was 34 months. No late deaths occurred in either group. Freedom from VSP failure and aortic prosthesis dysfunction were 93.8% and 94.1% in the VSP and BP groups, respectively. No reoperations were necessary in either group. Redo aortic root surgery can be safely performed in patients with autograft failure. Both root replacement and autograft valve-sparing procedures demonstrated acceptable results at mid-term follow-up. Early redo surgery pre-empting severe aortic insufficiency increases the likelihood of preservation of the dilated autograft valve.