Reinforced Ross operation and intermediate to long term follow up

The Ross operation for aortic valve replacement continues to be a controversial option because of concerns related to late autograft dilation and progressive neo-aortic regurgitation. We described a technique in 2005 to address this problem, in which we place the entire autograft in a Dacron tube which makes it theoretically unlikely, if not impossible, for it to dilate-the reinforced Ross procedure. Since 2004, we have operated on 25 patients using this technique. Median length of follow-up in our cohort was 6 years, with 14 patients having 5 years or more of follow-up. Our data demonstrate the externally supported, or reinforced Ross technique using a straight graft is a safe and effective technique in older children, adolescents, and young adult patients. At intermediate follow-up, patients who underwent a reinforced Ross technique were less likely to have neoaortic root dilatation.