Reoperations after Ross procedure: a retrospective study

Aim. To analyze the immediate outcomes of reinterventions after Ross procedure. Material and methods. From April 2009 to December 2022, 224 Ross operations in adults were performed at the Federal Center for Cardiovascular Surgery. The retrospective study included 17 patients who required repeated interventions (14 men/3 women). The mean age of the patients was 38±11 years, with a minimum age of 21 and a maximum of 54 years. A history of infective endocarditis was revealed in 4 (23,5%) patients, hypertension — in 3 (17,6%) patients. Of the 17 included patients, 15 patients underwent the classic Ross operation ("full root replacement"), while 2 — a modified technique (1 — wrapping with aorta, 1 — wrapping with a Dacron graft). Annulus enhancement was previously performed in 3 patients. Results. Interventions on the pulmonary autograft and homograft were performed in 16 and 4 cases, respectively. The main indication for pulmonary autograft intervention was aortic regurgitation in 15 cases, and neoaortic aneurysm in 14 cases. In 3 patients, there was pulmonary homograft stenosis, while in 1 case — thrombosis. Two patients required interventions on other valves: 1 — mitral valve stenosis, 1 — severe tricuspid regurgitation. Mean reoperation, cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial ischemia time were 289±62, 126±35 and 98±22 min, respectively. Combined interventions were performed in 6 cases. David valve-sparing procedure was performed in 9 patients, Bentall-de Bono technique — in 3, aortic valve repair — in 2, mechanical aortic valve replacement — in 2, supracoronary ascending aorta replacement — in 2, pulmonary homograft replacement — in 2, pulmonary homograft thrombectomy — in 1, pulmonary homograft repair — in 1 patient, mitral valve replacement — in 1 patient, tricuspid valve repair — in 1 patient. One patient required resternotomy for bleeding. There were no postoperative complications (perioperative myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, stroke, sternal infection, cardiac tamponade) and deaths. The median length of stay in intensive care unit was 21 [16-23] hours. Conclusion. Reoperations after the Ross procedure may be required for different pathologies, but all can be performed surgically with a high safety in experienced operator.