Ross Procedure Donor Valve: Is There A Waiting List for Patients?

The Ross Procedure is an advanced form of aortic valve replacement that is rarely offered to patients. However, new research suggests there are many patient advantages of the Ross Procedure including normal life expectancy without the use of blood thinners. That said, many patients want to learn more about this two-valve operation that replaces the patient's diseased aortic valve with his/her own pulmonary valve. Then, a donor valve from a human cadaver is placed in the patient's pulmonary position. To answer these important questions about pulmonary donor valves and the Ross Procedure, we met with Dr. Joanna Chikwe, the Chair of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. (Video posted on August 6, 2025)