From Other Journals

Excerpt

Ross aortic valve replacement was performed in conjunction with a modified Konno root enlargement for 14 patients with severe or critical valvar aortic stenosis or multilevel left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Operations were performed over a 10-year period, and the mean follow-up period was 5.7 years. The median age at the time of operation was 6.4 years (range, 1 month to 17 years), and 93% of the patients had undergone at least one previous procedure. There was one early and one late death, and the actuarial survival rate at 10 years was 86%. Overall freedom from reoperation was 69% at 10 years, with a freedom from right ventricular conduit replacement of 77% and a freedom from autograft replacement of 92%. At follow-up assessment, significant aortic stenosis was not observed. Moderate aortic insufficiency occurred in one patient, requiring reoperation, and mild aortic insufficiency was present in six patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis failed to identify risk factors for outcomes. …