Why is the Ross Procedure better than other aortic valve replacement procedures?
There are numerous reasons why the Ross Procedure is better than the alternatives: No blood-thinners (anticoagulants) are required. If the aortic valve is replaced with a mechanical valve, the patient must take anticoagulants for the rest of his or her life. These medications have a small but cumulative risk of excess bleeding or hemorrhage and the effects of the anticoagulants must be monitored with a blood test every 3 or 4 weeks and the dosage adjusted accordingly. Underdosing may lead to embolic events such as stroke or acute thrombosis (sudden valve failure due to clotting).
