Update on the mitral pulmonary autograft

Between July 1997 and August 2004, 92 patients with irreparable mitral valves underwent replacement with a pulmonary autograft. This report brings the follow-up data of these patients up to date. Eighty-eight patients had a successful Ross II operation; 4 were lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 94 months. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a successful outcome in all 88 patients immediately after the operation. Operative mortality was 4.6%, and late mortality definitely related to the operation was 12.5%. At a mean follow-up of 94 months, freedom from structural valve deterioration (significant mitral stenosis and/or regurgitation) was 93.4%, freedom from reoperation was 92.0%, and freedom from all causes of death was 82.9%. Two autografts were explanted because of endocarditis. Two patients developed significant pulmonary stenosis, one of whom underwent operative repair. These data compare favorably with those of mitral valve replacement using modern bioprostheses. This procedure remains an option for the relatively young patient when life-long anticoagulation is contraindicated or impractical. It is also an option to consider in infants with complex irreparable mitral valve disease.