Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:745-750
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Original Articles
Semilunar valve switch procedure: autotransplantation of the native aortic valve to the pulmonary position in the ross procedure
Patrick T. Roughneen, FRCSa,
Serafin Y. DeLeon, MDa,
Benjamin W. Eidem, MDa,
Neil J. Thomas, MDa,
Frank Cetta, MDa,
Dolores A. Vitullo, MDa,
Kathy E. Magliato, MDa,
Teresa E. Berry, MDa,
Mamdouh Bakhos, MDa
a Departments of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Pediatrics, Loyola University Medical School, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
Accepted for publication July 24, 1998.
Address reprint requests to Dr Roughneen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153
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Abstract
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Background. The Ross procedure has gained wide acceptance in young patients with aortic valve disease. The durability of the pulmonary autograft in the aortic position has been proved, with up to 24 years of follow-up. The homograft pulmonary valve, however, has limited longevity. To circumvent this problem we harvested, repaired, and reimplanted the native aortic valve with intact commissures in the pulmonary position in 13 patients undergoing the Ross procedure for aortic insufficiency.
Methods. The cause of aortic insufficiency was rheumatic in 6 patients, congenital in 4, post–aortic valvotomy in 2, and bacterial endocarditis in 1. Patient age ranged from 5 to 45 years (mean, 17 ± 9 years). Root replacement technique with coronary artery reimplantation was used. In the first 4 patients, the native aortic valve was sutured into the right ventricular outflow tract, and a polytetrafluorethylene patch was used to reconstruct the main pulmonary artery. In the last 9 patients, the aortic valve and polytetrafluorethylene patch were made into a conduit by another surgeon while the left-sided reconstruction was performed.
Results. All patients had marked reduction of left ventricular dilation and good function of the reimplanted native aortic valve, with up to 50 months of follow-up (mean, 29.9 ± 14.2 months; range, 12 to 50 months). Two patients died 15 and 26 days, respectively, of a false aneurysm rupture at the distal aortic anastomosis. In the remaining 11 patients, 9 (82%) had mild or absent, and 2 (18%) had mild to moderate, neoaortic valve regurgitation. Similarly, 9 patients (82%) had mild or absent, and 2 (18%) had mild to moderate, neopulmonary valve regurgitation. Mild neopulmonary valve stenosis was present in 6 patients (54%) (mean gradient, 29 ± 4 mm Hg; range, 25 to 35 mm Hg). All surviving patients are in functional New York Heart Association functional class I.
Conclusions. We conclude that use of the native aortic valve with the Ross procedure makes the procedure attractive and potentially curative. The diseased aortic valve works well in the pulmonary position because of lower pressure and resistance. The valve leaflets should remain viable and grow in both the pulmonary and aortic positions because they derive nutrition directly from the blood.
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Introduction
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Since the first description of autotransplantation of the native pulmonary valve to the aortic position by Ross in 1967 [1], this procedure has gained acceptance in the treatment of aortic valve disease [2]. Recently, this operation has become the procedure of choice for many infants and children with aortic valve disease [3–8]. The benefits of the pulmonary autograft in the aortic position include growth, lack of degeneration, and avoidance of anticoagulation [9–11]. Although the pulmonary autograft has demonstrated satisfactory function over a 24-year follow-up period, the homograft in the pulmonary position is subject to degenerative change [12]. Elkins and colleagues [4] analyzed 8-year data demonstrating a low freedom (94% ± 3%) from reoperation in children who underwent the Ross procedure; however, the pulmonary homograft will subsequently require replacement. Sixteen-year data from Gerosa and colleagues [9] have demonstrated freedom from reoperation of the homograft to be 80% in children undergoing this procedure. In addition to the problems of degeneration, lack of growth of the homograft remains a significant disadvantage when the procedure is used in infants and children.
To circumvent the problems of homograft degeneration and lack of growth, we started implanting the reconstructed native aortic valve in the pulmonary position with the Ross procedure (semilunar valve switch procedure). Since our initial description of this procedure [13, 14], we have performed the semilunar valve switch procedure in 13 patients with varied aortic valve disease. The present report describes our experience.
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Patients and methods
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The 13 patients have ranged in age from 5 to 45 years (mean, 17 ± 9 years). Preoperative echocardiography was performed in 12 patients and angiography in 1 for evaluation of aortic and pulmonary valve function. Aortic valve regurgitation was graded as moderate or severe. Left ventricular outflow tract anatomy was also determined. Postoperative echocardiography was performed in all patients. Aortic and pulmonary valve function were assessed. If present, peak aortic or pulmonary valve gradient was quantified by Doppler echocardiography. Aortic or pulmonary regurgitation was quantified as mild, moderate, or severe.
The cause of aortic insufficiency was rheumatic in 6 patients, congenital bicuspid aortic valves in 4, post–aortic valvotomy in 2, and bacterial endocarditis in 1.
Surgical technique
All patients underwent median sternotomy and were placed on cardiopulmonary support using a single arterial and bicaval venous cannulation with systemic hypothermia (28°C). The aortic cross-clamp was placed, and antegrade blood cardioplegia was administered directly into the coronary orifices through the aortic transection site. Thereafter, retrograde cold blood cardioplegia was administered every 10 to 15 minutes during the period of aortic cross-clamping, and ice slush was topically applied. The pulmonary artery was opened proximal to the bifurcation, and the pulmonary valve was inspected for suitability for the Ross procedure. The aorta was completely transsected, and the aortic valve was inspected. Incision was then made on the infundibulum of the right ventricle, and the pulmonary autograft was harvested. The muscle was divided with great care so as not to injure the first septal perforating branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The right and left coronary arteries were detached from the aorta with a cuff of aortic wall. The aortic valve was then harvested (Fig 1). An incision was made in the region of the left coronary sinus, and the valve was excised from its attachment to the aortic annulus. The aortic commissures were included in the autograft by incising both above and beneath the commissure. The harvested autograft consisted of the valve leaflets, their associated commissures, and a generous portion of aortic wall associated with the noncoronary sinus. In our first 4 cases the aortic autograft was sewn in the pulmonary position (Fig 1, C to E; Fig 2), and a polytetrafluoroethylene patch was used to complete the repair. In the last 9 cases the autograft was taken to the back table for construction of the composite graft (Fig 1, F to I; Fig 3). The aortic valve leaflets, commissure, and aorta were sewn to a patch of 0.6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene with a window to accommodate the harvested portion of the noncoronary aortic wall. The polytetrafluoroethylene patch was made into a tube using a running 5.0-mm polytetrafluoroethylene suture to form the completed composite graft. Autologous pericardium was used to augment the depth of the leaflets by interposing a strip of pericardium between the incised edge of the valve leaflet and the neopulmonary wall. While one surgeon performed construction of the autograft conduit, the other performed aortic root replacement. In performing the latter we used a two-layer technique, inverting the autograft in the left ventricular outflow tract. The autograft was sewn to the aortic annulus with a continuous 4/0 prolene suture. A second layer of the 5/0 prolene suture was used to approximate the aortic wall distal to the annulus with the adventitia of the pulmonary autograft. Incisions were then made in the region of the left and right coronary sinuses of the neoaorta, and the coronary arteries were reimplanted with a 6/0 prolene suture. The aortic distal anastomosis was completed using a 4/0 prolene suture. In our last 4 cases we reinforced the distal anastomosis with a strip of native pericardium.
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Fig 1. Harvest of the aortic valve with intact commissure. (A) Harvest of the pulmonary autograft. (B) Harvest of the native aortic valve. (C to E) Implantation of the aortic autograft in the pulmonary position using the freehand technique. After the autograft is sewn in position, the wall of the neopulmonary artery is completed using a polytetrafluoroethylene patch. (F to I) Construction of the composite aortic autograft.
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Fig 2. The freehand technique of autograft placement in the right ventricular outflow tract (superior view).
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Fig 3. The composite aortic autograft: (a) superior view; (b) lateral view. Note that 40% of the circumference of the composite autograft consists of native aorta.
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The composite aortic autograft was sewn in the pulmonary position using a 4/0 polytetrafluoroethylene suture. After reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, all patients underwent uneventful rewarming and weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass.
Follow-up
All patients were followed-up postoperatively, and transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess the function of the pulmonary and aortic valve autografts. Echocardiographic grading of stenosis or insufficiency of the implanted valves was determined as mild, moderate, or severe. Doppler gradients, when present, were calculated on the basis of peak velocity across the stenotic area. The functional status of patients was classified according to New York Heart Association function class criteria. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
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Results
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After the semilunar valve switch procedure, there was satisfactory relief of aortic regurgitation in all patients, with good function of both the aortic and pulmonary autografts on immediate postoperative echocardiographic evaluation (Table 1; Fig 4). There were two early deaths. One patient died suddenly on the 26th postoperative day of rupture of a false aneurysm at the site of the distal aortic anastomosis. The second patient had a satisfactory hospital course and was discharged on postoperative day 5. While at home she suddenly developed chest pain after straining, after which she went into cardiac arrest and died on the 15th postoperative day. Autopsy demonstrated a tear at the distal aortic anastomotic site, at the junction of the aorta, neoaorta, and right coronary artery anastomosis. We consider both deaths to be secondary to the fragile nature of the pulmonary autograft in the immediate postoperative period, before long-term adaptation of the neoaortic wall to systemic pressures. To prevent this complication we used a circular strip of pericardium to reinforce the distal anastomosis in the latter patients in our series. The remaining 11 patients are all in New York Heart Association functional class I. Mean follow-up is 29.9 ± 14.2 months (range, 12 to 50 months). Echocardiography showed excellent biventricular function in all patients. Nine patients (82%) demonstrated mild or absent, and 2 (18%) mild to moderate, neoaortic valve regurgitation. Similarly, 9 patients (82%) demonstrated mild or absent, and 2 (18%) mild to moderate, neopulmonary valve regurgitation. Mild neopulmonary valve stenosis was present in 6 patients (54%) (gradient range, 25 to 35 mm Hg; mean, 29 ± 4 mm Hg).
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Fig 4. Transesophageal echocardiographic scans from a patient undergoing the semilunar valve switch: (a) preoperative scan demonstrating incompetent aortic valve; (b) scan showing aortic valve transposed to the pulmonary position.
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Comment
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The Ross procedure has gained widespread acceptance secondary to application of the root replacement technique and improvements in myocardial protection. It is considered by many to be the operation of choice for patients less than 50 years of age with aortic valve disease and no associated coronary artery disease [12]. The procedure has also gained some acceptance in congenital heart operation for children with critical aortic stenosis either as the first operative procedure or after previous balloon or surgical valvotomy [3–8].
The 25-year data of Ross and colleagues [11] demonstrate 69% freedom from reoperation of the pulmonary autograft. The reoperation rate is probably high because it includes those early patients who underwent subcoronary autograft implantation and the inclusion autograft cylinder technique. Nevertheless, the ability of the pulmonary valve to withstand the systolic pressure and remain competent is clear.
A major drawback of the Ross procedure is the need for a pulmonary homograft that will need replacement because of calcification and degeneration. Sixteen-year follow-up data have demonstrated 80% ± 10% freedom from reoperation in the right ventricular outflow tract [9]. Elkins and colleagues [10] similarly demonstrated the need for reoperation in the right ventricular outflow tract in children undergoing the Ross procedure. Although freedom from reoperation in the pulmonary homograft at 8 years was relatively low (94% ± 3%) in their series, the pulmonary homograft valve will eventually degenerate and calcify [4, 15]. They also demonstrated that cryopreserved homografts tend to undergo significant annular reduction after implantation, resulting in significant pulmonary regurgitation. Early severe homograft valve degeneration occurring within the first year of implantation has also been reported [16]. These latter failures may be attributable to an immunologic rejection of the homograft. Histologic studies of explanted homografts demonstrate their acellular nature, consisting mainly of a fibrous skeleton with dystrophic calcification [16]. In contrast, explanted autografts demonstrate cellular viability along with structural fibrous elements and absence of dystrophic calcification [16]. On the basis of the longevity and growth characteristics of the pulmonary autograft with total root replacement techniques, use of the native aortic valve in the pulmonary position becomes an attractive option.
Although the aortic valve may be incompetent in the systemic circulation, its function on the right side is usually adequate when subjected to lower pressures in the pulmonary circulation. When present, the consequences of mild pulmonary regurgitation are physiologically acceptable and similar to those seen when homografts are used [4]. Reconstruction of the native aortic valve using autologous pericardium to augment the aortic leaflets further improves its competence. Follow-up of our patients has demonstrated satisfactory function of the aortic autograft, with most of our surviving patients having no or mild pulmonary valve insufficiency up to 44 months of follow up.
The two deaths we encountered were secondary to delayed dehiscence at the distal pulmonary autograft anastomosis. We now routinely reinforce this area with a pericardial strip. Of note, Black and colleagues [17] also reported on the need to reinforce the distal autograft by using native noncoronary sinus wall in patients undergoing the Ross procedure. They had noted friability and bleeding at the distal pulmonary autograft anastomosis, attributing these lesions to the thin and delicate nature of the autograft.
The semilunar valve switch procedure has significant economic advantages over the classic Ross procedure, which requires a pulmonary homograft. Use of the native aortic valve in the pulmonary position obviates the need for a foreign valve that is expensive and not readily available. Such economic advantages are particularly attractive in developing countries where isolated rheumatic aortic valve insufficiency is common.
Postvalvotomy aortic valves and rheumatic valves tend to have thickened leaflets. Although leaflets augmented with pericardium function well in the short term, there are legitimate concerns as to whether they will function adequately over the long term. However, thickened pulmonary valves have remained functional after pulmonary valvotomy. Calcification of thickened valves seen on the left side does not appear to occur in the pulmonary position, probably because of lower shear forces. Additionally, concerns about the possibility of the rheumatic process involving the pulmonary or aortic valve are legitimate, as reported by Al-Halees and colleagues [18], who described recurrence of rheumatic disease in the pulmonary autograft. Continued penicillin prophylaxis, however, should minimize such recurrence.
Our current indications for performing the semilunar valve switch are in children and young adults in whom the aortic valve is suitable for construction of a competent autograft. With use of our modification of the Ross procedure, we believe that the aortic autograft may avoid the need for reoperation secondary to growth constraints or calcific degeneration resulting from homograft use. Furthermore, we believe that the semilunar valve switch procedure has pertinent economic advantages to substantiate its use in both developed and undeveloped countries.
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Acknowledgments
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We thank Maureen Kletecka and Anne Mikesh for their excellent help in the preparation of the manuscript.
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References
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Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1999 67: 750.
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Abstract
Introduction
