How has the Ross Procedure benefited pediatric patients?
To overcome the significant problems with surgical treatment of congenital aortic valve disease, the Ross procedure has been proposed as a desirable alternative. Over the last decade, Dr. Ronald Elkins at the University of Oklahoma has shown that the Ross procedure is truely the best long term treatment for children with aortic valve and root abnormalities. Notably, Dr. Elkins was the first to demonstrate that the autotransplant grew along with the child, making this operation the only aortic valve replacement with growth potential. In addition, the native tissue reconstruction provided by the Ross makes it possible to eliminate the burden of anticoagulation altogether. Dr. Elkins has shown excellent results. Actuarial survival was 96.5% at seven years from the date of surgery . Freedom from failure in the transplanted pulmonary graft was 92%, and as high as 96% when used as a full root replacement.
