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Ann Thorac Surg 2005;79:499-504
© 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Original article: Cardiovascular

The Ross Operation: An Evaluation of a Single Institution's Experience

Fabrizio Settepani, MD*, Abdullah Kaya, MD, Wim J. Morshuis, MD, PhD, Marc A. Schepens, MD, PhD, Robin H. Heijmen, MD, PhD, Karl M. Dossche, MD, PhD

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands

Accepted for publication July 29, 2004.

* Address reprint requests to Dr Settepani, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, PO Box 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein, the Netherlands (E-mail: sieben2000{at}yahoo.com).


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Comment
 References
 
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary autograft aortic root replacement was used in adults. Risk factors for aortic valve incompetence (AI) and pulmonary homograft valve stenosis are identified.

METHODS: From February 1991 through May 2003, 103 patients, with a mean age of 35.2 ± 9.5 years, underwent aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft. Annulus reinforcement (reduction annuloplasty or use of root ring) was carried out in 45 patients. In all but 1 patient, the right ventricular outflow tract was reconstructed with a cryopreserved pulmonary homograft. Mean follow-up duration was 6.0 ± 2.8 years (range 0.3 to 11 years).

RESULTS: There were no hospital deaths. Overall patient survival was 98.9 ± 1.0% at 1 year and 97.3 ± 1.9% at 10 years. Autograft function follow-up resulted in 5 patients requiring reoperation for aortic incompetence. The univariate risk factors for aortic incompetence at discharge and during follow-up were respectively annulus reinforcement (p = 0.05) and bicuspic aortic valve (p = 0.05). Reoperation for homograft failure occurred in 1 patient. During follow-up, 24 patients (25.5%) developed homograft stenosis (gradient > 20 mm Hg). Univariate analysis indicated the diameter of the homograft (p = 0.001) as factor associated with stenosis during follow-up. Cox regression identified smaller diameter of the homograft (p = 0.001) and older age of donor (p = 0.002) as independent risk factor for the development of homograft stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS: The Ross operation can be performed with few complications. Although both the aortic autograft and the pulmonary homograft have limited durability, this has not yet resulted in considerable reoperation rates and associated morbidity and mortality.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Patients and Methods
 Results
 Comment
 References
 
Ross introduced the replacement of a diseased aortic valve by means of a pulmonary autograft in 1967 [1]. Ross' group identified the advantages of the autograft valve as excellent hemodynamic performance, freedom from anticoagulation and, for children, the potential for growth. Relatively high mortality, early failure rates reported, and the complexity of the procedure have deterred many surgeons from embracing this procedure in the past [2, 3]. Recent experience, on the contrary, indicates that this operation can be performed with acceptable risk [4, 5]. This can be explained by increasing experience and modification of the surgical technique from an original subcoronary technique toward a full root replacement technique [6]. This article describes our medium-term experience with the Ross operation in 103 adult patients (with aortic valve disease) and presents the result of serial echocardiographic study assessing the function of the autograft and the pulmonary homograft.


   Patients and Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
Results
 Comment
 References
 
From February 1991 through May 2003, 103 selected adult patients with a mean age of 35.2 ± 9.5 years (range 17 to 65 years old) underwent root replacement with the pulmonary autograft. The characteristics of the patients are reported in Table 1.


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  		Table 1. Preoperative Patient Characteristics
 
Our operative techniques for the Ross operation and autograft annulus reinforcement and reduction have been previously described [7]. Briefly, all operations were performed with the use of mild systemic hypothermia; myocardial protection was provided by low sodium normopotassic cardioplegic solution and topical cooling. In all the patients, the autograft was implanted as a free standing root. The diameter of the aortic annulus and pulmonary autograft was assessed by intraoperative measurement with cylindrical sizers. In 39 patients (37.8%) the proximal autograft suture line was reinforced by a 5-mm large strip of fresh autologous pericardium or prosthetic material (Teflon felt [Impra Inc, subsidiary of C.R. Brand, Temple, AZ], or a woven Dacron ring [C.R. Brand, Haverhill, PA]). In 12 patients (11.6%), significant dilatation of the aortic annulus (diameter exceeding the Z +2 value for the body surface area), required aortic annulus reduction. It was carried out by placing two 2-0 polypropylene sutures as a purse-string in a single horizontal plane just below the aortic annulus [8]. Homograft reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was accomplished with a cryopreserved pulmonary homograft in 102 patients and with a bovine pericardium mounted xenograft in 1 patient. All cryopreserved pulmonary homografts were provided by Bio Implant Service Foundation (BIS; Leiden, The Netherlands). The donors had a mean age of 45.2 ± 12.9 years (range 9 to 66 years old). Concomitant procedures included mitral valve plasty in 1 patient and open mitral commissurotomy in 1 patient. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 187.8 ± 35.8 minutes (range 133 to 287 minutes) and mean aortic cross-clamp time was 137.6 ± 26.5 minutes (range 98 to 232 minutes).

Postoperative Follow-Up
Follow-up was conducted between June and July 2003 by two investigators and was 97% complete. The 3 patients, whose follow-up was incomplete, were censored at the time of their last follow-up.

Assessment included New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, drug therapy, electrocardiogram, chest radiogram and transthoracic M-mode, two-dimensional and color-flow Doppler echocardiograms. The echocardiographic examinations were performed at discharge, 3 to 6 months postoperation, 1 year after the operation, and on a regular base thereafter. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient of the aortic and pulmonary valves was calculated [9]. Color-flow Doppler was used to detect aortic and pulmonary valvular incompetence, and severity was subjectively graded as trivial (1+), mild (2+), moderate (3+) and severe (4+).

Statistical Analysis
All analyses were performed using SPSS 8.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). Continuous variables were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) and were analyzed by using the unpaired two-tailed t test. Categorical variables were presented as percentage and were analyzed with the {chi}2 test or Fisher's exact test when appropriate. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to study potential determinants of aortic valve incompetence (AI) grade 2 or more at discharge. The following categorical variables were considered: sex, gender, preoperative AI grade 2 or more, preoperative left ventricle function less than 40%, annulus reinforcement (reduction annuloplasty or use of root ring), and bicuspid aortic valve. Variables that achieved a p value <0.2 in the univariate analysis were examined by using multivariate analysis with forward stepwise logistic regression for the developing of AI grade 2 or more. The same variables analyzed for AI at discharge were studied for AI grade 2 or more during follow-up. Variables that achieved a p value less than 0.2 in the univariate analysis were examined by using Cox proportional hazard regression for the developing of AI grade 2 or more.

The development of 20 mm Hg or greater gradient through the pulmonary homograft during follow-up was also investigated. For the univariate analysis the following variables were considered: diameters of the pulmonary homograft (continuous variable), age of the donor (continuous variable), and donor status (beating heart, non beating heart; categorical variables). Variables that achieved a p value less than 0.2 in the univariate analysis were examined by using Cox proportional hazard regression for the development of a 20 mm Hg or greater gradient through the homograft during follow-up. Estimates for long-term survival and freedom from morbid events were made by the Kaplan-Meier method.


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
Comment
 References
 
Mean follow-up was 6.0 ± 2.8 years (range 0.3 to 11 years).

Mortality
There were no hospital deaths. There were two late deaths. One patient died from bacterial meningitis 1 year postoperatively. The other patient developed pulmonary homograft endocarditis (proven by autopsy) 8 years after the operation and died acutely. Overall patient survival is shown with the Kaplan-Meier analysis in Figure 1, with 98.9 ± 1.0% at 1 year and 97.3 ± 1.9% at 10 years.



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  		Fig 1. Overall patient survival.

 
Morbidity
Eleven patients (10.7%) required early reoperation (< 24 hours) for bleeding. Four patients (3.9%) developed myocardial infarction (creatinine phosphokinase > 300 IU/L, myocardial band > 5%); 2 of them underwent coronary angiography that revealed a stenosis of the reimplanted right coronary ostium; the lesion was treated in both cases with a stent implantation. Both interventions were done within the same admission, a few days after surgery. The others two patients refused to undergo the coronary angiography, and are actually in NYHA class I. Three patients underwent pacemaker implantation because of permanent atrioventricular block. Two of these patients had extensive annular calcification, and 1 patient was a reoperation.

Reoperations for Autograft Failure
Five patients (4.8%) have required reoperation on the autograft valve for incompetence. Two patients developed severe aortic incompetence respectively 6 weeks and 15 months after the Ross procedure. In the first patient the pulmonary autograft was quadricuspid and this congenital anomaly was detected only at the end of the initial operation. In the second patient the cause of the autograft failure was unclear. In both cases a mechanical prosthesis was implanted within the autograft. Another patient has undergone aortic valve replacement 4 years after the operation for progressive autograft incompetence due to annular dilatation. The remaining 2 patients were reoperated respectively 3 and 8 years after the initial operation for a dilatation of the autograft root at the sinotubular level and severe AI detected by echocardiogram; in both cases a mechanical composite graft was implanted. Freedom (Kaplan-Meier) from reoperation on pulmonary autograft is 98.7% ± 1.2% at 5 years, 96% ± 2.9% at 7 years, and 87.4% ± 6.4% at 10 years (Fig 2).



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  		Fig 2. Actuarial freedom from reoperation on pulmonary autograft during follow-up.

 
Reoperations for Pulmonary Homograft Failure
Reoperation for homograft failure occurred in 1 patient; he developed stenosis of the pulmonary homograft (pulse Doppler gradient of 50 mm Hg) 13 months after the initial operation. The patient, initially treated with patch angioplasty of the pulmonary homograft, had replacement of the homograft 3 years postoperatively. Freedom from reoperation on pulmonary homograft is 98.7% ± 1.2% at 10 years.

Valvular Endocarditis
Endocarditis occurred in 2 patients. In the first patient the endocarditis was localized on the pulmonary autograft and was successfully treated with antibiotics; a recent echocardiogram of the patient depicts a trivial aortic incompetence. In the second patient, as already described, the endocarditis was localized on the pulmonary homograft and was fatal. Freedom from endocarditis is 98.3% ± 1.6% at 5 years and 95.7% ± 3% at 10 years.

Cerebrovascular Accident
Three patients had a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) 9 months, 4 years, and 5 years postoperatively, respectively. There was no documented arrhythmia or clot in the heart on echocardiography. Freedom from CVA is 96.7% ± 2.2% at 6 years and 92.5% ± 4.6% at 10 years.

When including death of any cause, reoperation, CVA and endocarditis as events, the even- free survival at 1 year is 98.9% ± 1%, 96.3% ± 2% at 5 years, 85.5% ± 5.4% at 8 years, and 75.4% ± 7.3% at 10 years (Fig 3).



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  		Fig 3. Event-free survival.

 
Autograft Valve Function
All the patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiogram at discharge. There was no aortic incompetence (AI) in 69 patients (67.0%), 30 patients (29.1%) had a trivial AI; 3 (2.9%) had a mild AI, and 1 (1.0%) had severe AI requiring reoperation 6 weeks after the Ross procedure. The influence of the variables including sex, gender, preoperative AI grade 2 or more, preoperative left ventricular function, bicuspid valve, annulus reinforcement (reduction annuloplasty or use of root ring) on the incidence of early AI grade 2 or more (only 4 patients) was investigated. Regurgitation was central in the majority of patients. At the univariate analysis, annulus reinforcement (p = 0.05) was the only factor associated with AI grade 2 or more at discharge. Multivariate analysis failed to show any significant independent risk factor, but numbers in the subgroups were small.

Recent echocardiographic assessment (within 1 year of closing date of the follow-up study) of the pulmonary autograft valve function was available in 73% of patients (excluding 2 deaths and 5 reoperations); in 85% of patients, an echo of less than 2 years old was available. All patients without recent echocardiographic assessment have stable clinical examination. Details are listed in Table 2. None of the patients had aortic valve stenosis. The number of patients with AI grade 2 or more was significantly (p = 0.03) higher during follow-up compared to discharge (4 of 103 at discharge and 18 of 94 during follow-up). The same variables analyzed for their influence on AI at discharge were studied for their influence of AI grade 2 or more during follow-up. At the univariate analysis, bicuspid aortic valve (p = 0.05) was the only factor associated with AI grade 2 or more during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression failed to show any significant independent risk factor. Freedom from mild or more AI was 97.8% ± 1.5% at 1 year, 91.3% ± 3.1% at 5 years, 76.4% ± 6.1% at 8 years, and 62.9% ± 8.7% at 10 years.


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  		Table 2. Aortic Valve Function During Follow-Up in the 94 Patients Who Survived With Their Pulmonary Autograft in Place
 
Homograft Valve Function
None of the patients had pulmonary valve stenosis (gradient > 20 mm Hg, peak velocity across the pulmonary homograft > 1.4 m/s) at discharge, 9 patients (8.7%) had trivial pulmonary regurgitation. During follow-up, 24 patients (25.5%) developed pulmonary homograft stenosis. One patient, as already mentioned, underwent reoperation on the homograft for a stenosis of greater than 50 mm Hg. The influence of the variables including diameter of the pulmonary homograft, age of the donor, and donor status on the development of homograft stenosis was investigated. Univariate analysis indicated that the diameter of the pulmonary homograft (p < 0.001) was the only factor associated with pulmonary stenosis during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression identified smaller diameter of the pulmonary homograft and older age of donor as independent risk factor for the development of pulmonary homograft stenosis (Table 3).


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  		Table 3. Cox Proportional Hazards Regression for the Development of Pulmonary Homograft Stenosis
 
Functional Status
At the closure of the study, 94 patients were alive with their pulmonary autograft in place. Of those, 84 patients (87.2%) had no cardiac symptoms and were in NYHA functional class I, 11 (11.7%) were in functional class II, and 1 (1.1%) was in functional class III. In this patient, a recent echocardiogram revealed a severe AI and a pseudoaneurysm of the autograft at the distal suture line. He is scheduled for reoperation.


   Comment
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Comment
References
 
Our 11-year experience with the autograft root replacement confirms that the Ross procedure can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. This has only been possible by careful selection of the patients: only adults with few comorbiditiy were scheduled for the operation.

Autograft failure necessitating reoperation occurred in only 5 patients. In 1 patient the pulmonary homograft was quadricuspid and this congenital malformation was detected only at the end of the initial operation. The quadricuspid pulmonary valve is a rare congenital heart anomaly; the reported incidence ranges from 1 in 400 to 1 in 1000 autopsies [10]. The rapid progression of regurgitation of a quadricuspid pulmonary valve in aortic position has already been described in literature [11] and this graft must be considered, therefore, an inadequate candidate for use as an autograft in the Ross procedure.

Aortic insufficiency during follow-up was mainly caused by dilatation at the annular level (1 patient) or at the sino-tubular level (2 patients). The annular dilatation can cause AI because it flattens the scalloped shape of the annulus, preventing coaptation of the cusps [12]. Reinforcement of the annulus or adjustment of the diameter to the body surface area of the patient has been recommended for prevention of AI [12, 13]. Therefore, in all procedures since 1997 we invariably use a reinforcement ring, or a reduction annuloplasty if the aortic annular diameter exceeds the Z +2 value. In 2 patients the cause of the AI was dilatation of the pulmonary arterial wall at the sinotubular junction. Dilatation of the sinotubular junction cause AI because it pulls the commissures of the aortic valve away from the center of the aortic root, preventing coaptation of the cusps [12]. Both patients had an aortic bicuspid valve. The relationship between bicuspid aortic valve and aortic wall abnormalities has been widely described [14, 15]. Given the common embryogenesis of the aorta and pulmonary artery [16], de Sa and colleagues [15] hypothesized that similar histologic lesions could exist also in the pulmonary wall of patients with bicuspid aortic valve. They found, in fact, a greater prevalence of degenerative changes of the media of the pulmonary artery of patients with an aortic bicuspid valve. We do not routinely reinforce the distal suture line, but are considering it.

The results of our study, in terms of autograft competence, are consistent with the outcomes of other studies using the autograft as a free standing root [17, 18]. Over the last few years, the implantation technique has been addressed; in our opinion the free standing root technique is critical to achieve and maintain consistent autograft competence. There is some evidence that the long-term results, in term of valve competence, are superior after root replacement than after cylindric and subcoronary techniques [19]. The advantages of the freestanding aortic root over the other two techniques has also been shown by Elkins and associates [13] and is probably due to the fact that the geometry of the autograft, and therefore the coaptation of the cusps, is better preserved. In contrast with this theory is the study of Sievers and associates [20] that shows good mid-term results with subcoronary or root inclusion technique; however, long-term results are needed.

The present series is of particular interest as 79.8% of the patients with a recent echocardiogram have an AI less than grade 2, and continue to maintain the benefits of their pulmonary autograft. The majority of them are in NYHA class I and conduct a normal life without anticoagulation.

Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, in our series, was routinely done with a cryopreserved homograft. We, and others [18, 19], have noticed a significant increase in pulmonary flow velocities during follow-up. Pulse-wave Doppler indicated that the gradient was located directly at the homograft leaflets and not at the anastomosis. We are inclined to think, therefore, that the increased flow velocities are valve related and on the base of the results of the multivariate analysis, we support the current practice of oversizing the homograft by at least 2 to 3 mm [21]; usually this results in a pulmonary homograft with a minimum internal diameter of 28 mm.

The influence of immune activation on man valve homograft deterioration remains unclear. Nevertheless, Oei and associates [22] reported that in rats, aortic valve homografts are able to induce a donor reactive immune response that is related to early graft destruction and incompetence. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of immunologic factors in man valve homograft deterioration.

Older age of donor was identified as independent risk factor for the development of pulmonary homograft stenosis (p = 0.002); Lund and coworkers [23] found, in a large series of patients, that donor age above 65 years old was a significant risk factor for homograft failure. According to previous studies [23, 24], however, we keep the donor-patient age mismatch within 10 years.

In conclusion, our long-term experience with the Ross operation has confirmed the suitability and safety of this operation for patients with aortic valve disease. Although both the aortic autograft and the pulmonary homograft have limited durability, this has not yet resulted in considerable reoperation rates and associated morbidity and mortality.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Comment
 References
 

  1. Ross DN. Replacement of aortic and mitral valves with a pulmonary autograft Lancet 1967;2:956-958.[Medline]
  2. Elkins RC, Lane MM, McCue C. Pulmonary autograft reoperation: incidence and management Ann Thorac Surg 1996;62:450-455.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Chambers JC, Somerville J, Stone S, Ross DN. Pulmonary autograft procedure for aortic valve disease: long-term results of the pioneer series Circulation 1997;96:2206-2214.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Takkenberg JJ, Dossche KM, Hazekamp MG, et al. Report of the Dutch experience with the Ross procedure in 343 patients Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;22:70-77.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Kouchoukos NT. Aortic allografts and pulmonary autografts for replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:1846-1848.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Barratt-Boyes BG, Roche AH, Subramanyan R, Pemberton JR, Whitlock RM. Long-term follow-up of patients with the antibiotic-sterilized aortic homograft valve inserted freehand in the aortic position Circulation 1987;75:768-777.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Dossche KM, de la Riviere AB, Morshuis WJ, Schepens MA, Ernst SM, van den Brand JJ. Aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft: an invariably competent aortic valve? Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:1302-1307.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Elkins RC, Lane MM, McCue C. Ross operation in children: late results J Heart Valve Dis 2001;10:736-741.[Medline]
  9. Currie PJ, Seward JB, Reeder GS, et al. Continuous-wave Doppler echocardiographic assessment of severity of calcific aortic stenosis: a simultaneous Doppler-catheter correlative study in 100 adult patients Circulation 1985;71:1162-1169.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Prat AG, Doisy VC, Savoye C, Moreau DC, Monier EJ, Stankowiak C. Total aortic root replacement with pulmonary autografts: short term results in 45 consecutive patients J Heart Valve Dis 1995;4:368-373.[Medline]
  11. Berdajs D, Lajos P, Zund G, Turina M. The quadricuspid pulmonary valve: its importance in the Ross procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003;125:198-199.[Free Full Text]
  12. David TE, Omran A, Webb G, Rakowski H, Armstrong S, Sun Z. Geometric mismatch of the aortic and pulmonary roots causes aortic insufficiency after the Ross procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:1231-1237.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Elkins RC, Knott-Craig CJ, Howell CE. Pulmonary autografts in patients with aortic annulus dysplasia Ann Thorac Surg 1996;61:1141-1145.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Bonderman D, Gharehbaghi-Schnell E, Wollenek G, Maurer G, Baumgartner H, Lang IM. Mechanisms underlying aortic dilatation in congenital aortic valve malformation Circulation 1999;99:2138-2143.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. de Sa M, Moshkovitz Y, Butany J, David TE. Histologic abnormalities of the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease: clinical relevance to the ross procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:588-594.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Kappetein AP, Gittenberger-de Groot AC, Zwinderman AH, Rohmer J, Poelmann RE, Huysmans HA. The neural crest as a possible pathogenetic factor in coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1991;102:830-836.[Abstract]
  17. Kouchoukos NT. Aortic allografts and pulmonary autografts for replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:1846-1848.
  18. Stelzer P, Weinrauch S, Tranbaugh RF. Ten years of experience with the modified Ross procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:1091-1100.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Chambers JC, Somerville J, Stone S, Ross DN. Pulmonary autograft procedure for aortic valve disease: long-term results of the pioneer series Circulation 1997;96:2206-2214.
  20. Sievers H, Dahmen G, Graf B, Stierle U, Ziegler A, Schmidtke C. Midterm results of the Ross procedure preserving the patient's aortic root Circulation 2003;108(Suppl 1):II55-60.
  21. Raanani E, Yau TM, David TE, Dellgren G, Sonnenberg BD, Omran A. Risk factors for late pulmonary homograft stenosis after the Ross procedure Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1953-1957.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Oei FB, Stegmann AP, Vaessen LM, Marquet RL, Weimar W, Bogers AJ. Immunological aspects of fresh and cryopreserved aortic valve transplantation in rats Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:S379-84.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. Lund O, Chandrasekaran V, Grocott-Mason R, et al. Primary aortic valve replacement with allografts over twenty-five years: valve-related and procedure-related determinants of outcome J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:77-90.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Hasnat K, Birks EJ, Liddicoat J, et al. Patient outcome and valve performance following a second aortic valve homograft replacement Circulation 1999;100:II42-7.



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