Analysis of 92 mitral pulmonary autograft replacement (Ross II) operations

Choice of valve substitutes

Infective endocarditis often necessitates surgical intervention, and the choice of valve substitute remains a topic of controversy and highly debatable due to the wide range of available options and recent technical advancements. This manuscript reviews the different valve substitutes in the context of infective endocarditis, including mechanical and bioprosthetic valves, homografts, xenografts, and tissue-engineered valves. The patient's age, sex, demographic location, intellectual quotient, comorbidities, available options, and the experience of the surgeon should all be taken into consideration while choosing the best valve substitute for that individual. While valve repair and reconstruction are preferred whenever feasible, valve replacement may be the only option in certain cases. The choice between mechanical and bioprosthetic valves should be guided by standard criteria such as age, sex, expected lifespan, associated comorbidities, and anticipated adherence to anticoagulation therapy and accessibility of medical facilities for follow-up. For patients with severe chronic illness or a history of intracranial bleeding or associated hematological disorders, the use of mechanical prostheses may be avoided. Homografts and bioprosthetic valves provide an alternative to mechanical valves, thereby decreasing the necessity for lifelong anticoagulation after surgery and diminishing the likelihood of bleeding complications. The manuscript also discusses specific valve substitutes for different heart valves (aortic, mitral, pulmonary, tricuspid positions) and highlights emerging techniques such as the aortic valve neocuspidization (Ozaki procedure) and tissue-engineered valves. Ultimately, the ideal valve substitute in IE should be evidence based on a comprehensive elucidation of clinical condition of the patient and available options.

The Ross Procedure: Imaging, Outcomes and Future Directions in Aortic Valve Replacement

The Ross procedure is gaining recognition as a significant option for aortic valve replacement (AVR), and is particularly beneficial in specific patient groups. Although categorized as a class IIb recommendation in the 2020 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) management guidelines on valvular heart disease, recent studies bolster its credibility. Research, including a propensity-matched study, underlines the Ross procedure's association with enhanced long-term survival and reduced adverse valve-related events compared to other AVR types. This positions the Ross procedure as a primary option for AVR in young and middle-aged adults within specialized centers, and potentially the only choice for children and infants requiring AVR. This review meticulously examines the Ross procedure, covering historical perspectives, surgical techniques, imaging, and outcomes, including hemodynamic performance and quality of life, especially focusing on pediatric and young adult patients. It explores contemporary techniques and innovations like minimally invasive approaches and tissue engineering, underscoring ongoing research and future directions. A summarization of comparative studies and meta-analyses reiterates the Ross procedure's superior long-term outcomes, valve durability, and preservation of the left ventricular function, accentuating the crucial role of patient selection and risk stratification, and pinpointing areas for future research.

Mitral valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft: long-term follow-up in an infant

A 7-month-old boy with a complete atrioventricular septal defect presented with severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation 4 months after complete repair. As the valve was unsuitable for the repair and the annulus was too small to accommodate a mechanical prosthesis, the modified mitral Ross operation was performed. The long-term outcome was uneventful for 12 years. The mitral Ross procedure is an old-described technique in which classically the pulmonary autograft is encased in a prosthetic conduit preventing any growth potential. On the contrary, the modified technique used in this case shows that the long-term function can be obtained. This procedure may be a valuable option when mitral valve replacement is necessary in infants.

Pulmonary Autograft Mitral Valve Replacement (Ross II): Long-Term Follow-Up of a US Center

BACKGROUND

Mitral valve replacement (MVR) with a pulmonary autograft (Ross II) may be a useful technique for pediatric and young adult patients who wish to avoid anticoagulation. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the Ross II procedure at our institution.

METHODS

Patients undergoing the Ross II procedure between June 2002 and April 2008 were included. Preoperative diagnoses included rheumatic disease (n = 5), congenital mitral valve (MV) pathology (partial atrioventricular canal defect [n = 2], complete atrioventricular canal defect [n = 1], Shone's complex [n = 1]), and myocarditis (n = 1).

RESULTS

Ten patients (eight females and two males) between 7 months and 46 years were included. Mean age at surgery was 25.2 ± 15.7 years. There were no in-hospital deaths. Mean follow-up was 11.7 ± 5.2 years. There were three late deaths at 11 months, 5 years, and 11 years, respectively. Causes of death included right heart failure, sepsis, and sudden cardiac arrest. Three patients required subsequent mechanical MVR a median of two years after the Ross II procedure (range: 1-4 years). There was no mortality with reoperation. Echocardiographic follow-up demonstrated mean MV gradients ranging from 2.2 to 9.6 mm Hg. Two patients had greater than mild MV regurgitation postoperatively, and all others had minimal mitral regurgitation or less. Two patients developed moderate MV stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The Ross II procedure is an option for select older children and young adults desiring a durable tissue MVR to avoid long-term anticoagulation.

Mitral Valve Replacement with a Pulmonary Autograft in an Infant

A 76-day-old infant weighing 3.4 kg was referred for surgical intervention for severe mitral valve stenoinsufficiency caused by leaflet fibrosis and calcification. He had experienced a cerebral infarction in the left middle cerebral artery territory, which was deemed attributable to an embolism of a calcified particle from the dysmorphic mitral valve. Because mitral valve replacement using a prosthetic valve was not feasible in this small baby, mitral valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft was performed. After a brief period of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, he was weaned from ECMO and was discharged home without further cardiovascular complications.

Mid-term outcomes of congenital mitral valve surgery: Shone's syndrome is a risk factor for death and reintervention

OBJECTIVES

To study the recent trends and outcomes of congenital mitral valve surgery in children.

METHODS

From 2008 to 2014, 84 procedures in 66 consecutive patients (41 procedures in 31 patients with mitral stenosis and 43 procedures in 35 patients with mitral regurgitation) were retrospectively evaluated. The mean age at surgery was 4.3 ± 5.4 years, and 27 patients (41%) were neonates or infants.

RESULTS

Seven (11%) patients died during the follow-up period of 3.2 ± 2.3 years and 5 (71%) were <1 year. Ten mitral valve replacements were performed in 8 patients, including 1 pulmonary valve homograft, 3 Contegra conduits of 12 mm thickness in the intra-annular position and 6 mechanical valves. Shone's syndrome, dysplastic valve, a need for valve replacement and age <1 year were the risk factors for death or reoperation in a univariable analysis, while in a multivariable analysis of all patients, valve replacement and age <1 year remained as risk factors. In a multivariable analysis of 27 patients aged <1 year, mitral valve dysplasia was a significant risk factor for reoperation or death. The 5-year rate of freedom from death or reoperation in neonates or infants was 55% and that in patients aged >1 year was 88% (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

An age of <1 year, mitral valve dysplasia and a need for mitral valve replacement were associated with a higher incidence of death or reoperation. Primary mitral valve replacement or univentricular strategy may have to be considered for symptomatic neonates with Shone's syndrome.

Feasibility and early effectiveness of a custom, hand-made systemic atrioventricular valve using porcine extracellular matrix (CorMatrix) in a 4-month-old infant

A need persists for a prosthetic, systemic atrioventricular valve replacement in the pediatric population that can be customized to a wide range of annular sizes, has a low risk of thrombosis, possesses optimal hemodynamic performance, and has the potential to remodel and grow with the patient. We describe a technique for successful systemic atrioventricular valve replacement in a 4-month-old infant by use of a handmade, bileaflet systemic atrioventricular prosthesis constructed from porcine extracellular matrix.

When repair is not feasible: prosthesis selection in children and adults with congenital heart disease

Congenital heart surgeons face many challenges when dealing with valvular pathology in the pediatric population. Because of the concerns related to growth, repair should be the main goal. However, this is not always feasible and valve replacement becomes the only other alternative. Valve replacement also represents one of the most common procedures performed for adults with congenital heart disease, with several valve options existing including homografts, xenografts, autografts, and other artificial prostheses. The choice sometimes may be difficult because there are advantages and disadvantages to each valve substitute. In this article, we will address the different options of valve replacement in children and adults with congenital heart disease, and review the current literature that supports current practice.

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.

Mitral valve replacement with the pulmonary autograft in children: a word of caution

A 4(1/2)-month-old patient who underwent mitral valve replacement for congenital mitral stenosis using a pulmonary autograft is reported. Failure of the autograft resulted in pulmonary hypertension, leading to pulmonary regurgitation in the reconstructed right ventricular outflow tract, then tricuspid regurgitation, refractory right heart failure, and death. Caution should be exercised in applying this procedure with children, particularly those at risk for pulmonary hypertension.