[Aortic root replacement with pulmonary allograft (Ross procedure) in children. Early results].

INTRODUCTION

For infants and children with congenital aortic valve disease root replacement with pulmonary allograft (Ross procedure) is the preferred method of choice.

PATIENTS/

RESULTS

The authors have successfully applied this operation in 12 children (age range from 2.5 to 17 years--mean 9 years, body weight from 12 to 58 kg--mean 46 kg), one of whom has also required a Konno extension for long segment left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The operation was complicated by early postoperative endocarditis in one case, and the child required redo homograft root replacement on the ninth postoperative day. All patients, including this one survived, and are doing well at present.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Hungarian literature this is the first report on the Ross and Konno procedure in children. On the basis of our excellent early results, Ross procedure is the method of choice in aortic valve disease in children.