Exercise performance in children and adolescents after the Ross procedure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• The Ross procedure is a common surgical option for pediatric aortic valve disease.
• Assessing post-operative exercise capacity is crucial for evaluating the long-term success of this procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare pre- and post-operative exercise performance in children and adolescents who underwent the Ross procedure.
• To evaluate the impact of the Ross procedure on aerobic capacity and physical function in young patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 26 patients (median age 15.7 years) who underwent the Ross procedure.
• Pre- and post-operative exercise stress tests using a ramp bicycle protocol.
• Measurement of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and cardiac output.

Main Results:

• A trend towards lower maximal oxygen consumption was observed post-procedure (83.9% predicted vs. 88.5% predicted).
• Increased adiposity post-surgery negated differences in oxygen consumption indexed to ideal body weight.
• Aerobic capacity improved or remained stable in 20 patients; no chronotropic impairment was noted.

Conclusions:

• The Ross procedure generally results in stable exercise performance in pediatric patients.
• Exercise capacity remains within normal ranges for age and sex-matched populations post-procedure.
• Increased adiposity and sedentary lifestyles do not significantly impair exercise performance after the Ross procedure.