Reinforced Ross operation and intermediate to long term follow up

The Ross operation for aortic valve replacement continues to be a controversial option because of concerns related to late autograft dilation and progressive neo-aortic regurgitation. We described a technique in 2005 to address this problem, in which we place the entire autograft in a Dacron tube which makes it theoretically unlikely, if not impossible, for it to dilate—the reinforced Ross procedure. Since 2004, we have operated on 25 patients using this technique. Median length of follow-up in our cohort was 6 years, with 14 patients having 5 years or more of follow-up. Our data demonstrate the externally supported, or reinforced Ross technique using a straight graft is a safe and effective technique in older children, adolescents, and young adult patients. At intermediate follow-up, patients who underwent a reinforced Ross technique were less likely to have neoaortic root dilatation.