What is the Ross Procedure?
Aortic valve failure due to stenosis (narrowing) or aortic incompetence (leaking) may be caused by congenital birth defects or certain illnesses and diseases. The Ross procedure is a surgical option for treating aortic valve failure. In the Ross procedure, the diseased aortic valve is removed and replaced with the patient’s own pulmonary valve (autograft). After the pulmonary valve is transferred to the aortic position, a donor pulmonary homograft (human cadaver) valve is sewn into the pulmonary position, and the coronary arteries are reimplanted. The Ross procedure is particularly appropriate for children and young adults with diseased aortic valves. The pulmonary valve is a good match in size to the aortic valve, it has the potential to grow as the child grows (which artificial valves cannot do), and it is well suited to the high pressures in the aorta. The procedure is also a good option for women who wish to become pregnant and for active patients who do not wish to take anticoagul
