Objectives: To determine the durability of autografts and homografts after Ross operations in children.
Patients and methods: The data of 152 children <16 years were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model and hierarchical multilevel modeling.
Results: Autograft regurgitation increased with sinotubular junction diameter (p=0.028). The homograft gradient increased within the first 2 years (4.2 mmHg/year, p<0.001). Freedom from autograft and homograft reintervention at 10 years was 95.5±2.7% and 79.6±6.1%, respectively. Longer follow-up time was a risk factor for autograft reintervention (p=0.036). Use of an aortic homograft was a risk factor for conduit reintervention (p=0.013).
Conclusions: Reinterventions are necessary for autograft regurgitation and homograft stenosis. Increasing sinotubular junction diameters explain autograft regurgitation. Using pulmonary homografts delays the development of a homograft gradient.

, , , ,
doi.org/10.1007/s00398-010-0768-z, hdl.handle.net/1765/19780
Zeitschrift für Herz-,Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Hörer, J., Stierle, U., Hanke, T., Takkenberg, H., Bogers, A., Hemmer, W., … Lange, R. (2010). Die Ross-Operation bei Kindern: Ergebnisse aus dem Europäischen Ross-Register. Zeitschrift für Herz-,Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, 24(2), 115–121. doi:10.1007/s00398-010-0768-z