A modified Ross operation to prevent pulmonary autograft dilatation

A modification in Ross operation is described in which the free-standing pulmonary autograft root is suspended in a Dacron prosthetic vascular jacket with a view to prevent dilatation of the neo-aortic root. In a group of 13 patients operated consecutively using this technique, there was no significant increase in the diameters of the neo-aortic root after a mean 16-month follow-up. Aortic valve function remained also satisfactory.