Original repair after Ross failure: A case report of bicuspidized unicuspid autograft

Abstract

Abstract: Ross procedure is a valid option for the treatment of aortic valve disease in children and young adults. However, the benefits of this operation are limited by the risk of reoperation for autograft degeneration. A limited number of clinical reports regarding valve repair after Ross procedure are available. Among those, repair of a unicuspid autograft has never been reported. The possibility to repair a dysfunctionial autograft might extend the benefits of the intervention and in this report we firstly describe a case of surgical repair of unicuspid aortic autograft after Ross operation. A unicuspid pulmonary autograft was used for a Ross procedure in a neonate to replace a congenitally stenotic aortic valve. Fourteen years later the patient developed degeneration of the unicuspid autograft valve. This could be successfully repaired through bicuspidization. The procedure was uncomplicated and the patient was discharged after days 7 in good conditions. Follow up echocardiography at 3 months showed a fully functioning aortic autograft.