Do surgical modifications at the annular level during the Ross procedure negatively influence the structural and functional durability of the autograft?

Do surgical modifications at the annular level (e.g. the modified Ross-Konno procedure or reduction plasty) influence the structure and function of the Ross autograft at the mid-term follow-up? From June 2001 to July 2009, 49 patients (37 men and 12 women), mean age 10.5 ± 5.7 years (range 2 weeks to 17.8 years), underwent Ross operations. Twenty-one patients underwent additional aortic annulus reduction plasty and 9 patients a modified Ross-Konno procedure. The need for reintervention, reoperation and valve function were retrospectively analysed for a mean follow-up of 4.6 ± 2.7 years (range 9 days to 9.2 years). There were no intraoperative or early death. Three late deaths occurred. Survival at 4 years was 91.9 ± 4.6%. In the overall cohort, aortic annular growth was 1 mm/year, corresponding to a z-score increase of 0.24/year (no mismatch group), 0.21/year (reduction plasty group) and 0.34/year (Ross-Konno group). At the last follow-up, sinotubular junction z-scores were 2.8 ± 1, 3 ± 1 and 2.4 ± 0.9 in the no mismatch, reduction plasty, and Ross-Konno groups, respectively. Ninety-three percent of patients presented with none-to-mild autograft valve regurgitation. The Ross-Konno group showed a significant increase in aortic annulus size (z-score of the annulus at the last follow-up 3.6 ± 1.6; P = 0.036). The no mismatch and the reduction plasty groups showed z-scores within the normal range (2.1 ± 1.7 and 2.5 ± 1.6, respectively). Additional aortic annulus reduction or enlargement does not disturb the structural and functional durability of the autograft at the mid-term follow-up. Long-term autograft integrity, especially in the Ross-Konno group, remains to be investigated.