
Young patients with dysplastic aortic valves, who need replacement of their aortic valve, may also undergo an alternative operation (other than replacement with a biological or mechanical valve) called Ross surgery.
Both mechanical and biological valves have several disadvantages, most notably the mandatory intake of anticoagulants for patients with mechanical valves, and the degeneration over time of biological valves.
These disadvantages are exacerbated at a very young age (children, adolescents and young people under the age of 30) and especially in women of childbearing age.
The placement of the pulmonary valve in place of the aortic was described as a method of replacing the aortic valve by Ross in 1967, and the long-term results published in 1991 gave new interest to the operation.
My heart surgery team has been performing Ross surgery with excellent results since 1999.