Total autologous Ross procedure in a child with aortic root abscess.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Endocarditis with aortic root abscess is one of the most complicated surgical problems.

METHODS

An 8-year-old girl presented with dyspnea, high fever, and fatigue. She had stenotic bicuspid aortic valve with endocarditis and aortic root abscess. Ross procedure was performed with fresh autologous pericardial tube and pericardial monocusp valve. Right internal mammary artery to right coronary artery bypass was also done due to destroyed right coronary artery ostium.

RESULTS

Four years after the operation she is in excellent clinical condition without medications. Echocardiography reveals mild autograft regurgitation and mildly stenotic right ventricular outflow tract.

CONCLUSIONS

If homografts are not available, total reconstruction of RVOT with autologous fresh pericardium may offer reasonable early and mid-term results especially when active endocarditis and aortic root abscess is involved.