When I share my Ross Procedure ^[1] experience with patients suffering from aortic valve disease, I typically receive a very appropriate, knee-jerk response. That response goes like this, “What? Huh? Ya mean… Umm… You had two valve replacements, not just one… Isn’t that more risky?”

As I have explained before, the answer to that question is both “yes” and “no”. (To read more about my thoughts on the Ross Procedure, please click here – “Why I Chose The Ross Procedure For Aortic Valve Replacement? ^[2]“)

Even though my Ross Procedure was several years ago, I continue to evaluate this complex operation as part of my ongoing research specific to heart valve surgery. This morning, I read a new study at CardiSource titled, “Ross Procedure: A Sixteen Year Experience”.

In this unique study, 487 Ross Procedure patients who underwent the operation between 1986 and 2002 were evaluated. The Ross operation was offered to all children, young adults with isolated valve disease, and older adults with an active lifestyle and a desire to avoid anticoagulation.

As for the types of patients that were observed in this study:

• The median age of the patient was 24 years and the majority of patients included children ages 1 day to 18 years and young adults ages 18-50 years.
• The predominant aortic valve disease was combined aortic regurgitation ^[3] and aortic stenosis ^[4] comprising 49% of patients. Other patients had isolated cases of stenosis, regurgitation and endocarditis ^[5].

Ultimately, the key finding of the study was specific to survival rates for those who had the Ross Procedure. According to this study, led by Dr. Ronald Elkins, the survival rates of the Ross Procedure were very good.

Approximately, 89% of patients were still living 16 years after their Ross Procedure. And, there were no late deaths identified with autograft valve or allograft valve reoperation. When matched with survival of the general US population matched by each patient’s age, sex, and year of operation, after the initial decrease associated with early mortality, the survival curve parallels the survival of the matched United States population.

However, as I’ve stressed before, this is a very complex operation. That said, please conduct an incredible amount of surgeon research and due diligence before having this, or any, operation. Some of the most widely used Ross Procedure surgeons I know of are: Dr. Vaughn Starnes, Dr. Paul Stelzer, Dr. William Ryan, Dr. Ronald Elkins and Dr. John Oswalt.

I hope that helps explain a little more about this risks and results of the Ross Procedure ^[6].

Keep on tickin!