ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: After the excelent long term results reported with the Ross operation, its use increased worldwide. OBJECTIVE: Report our initial surgical experience with this procedure. METHODS: From may/95 trough february/96, 24 patients (mean age 28.3 years) were submitted to Ross procedure with the root replacement method. Reconstrution of the right ventricular outflow tract was achieved by 17 pulmonary and 7 aortic homografts stored in nutrient-antibiotic media. All patients were submitted to angiographic and echocardiographic Doppler flow studies at the immediate postoperative period to assess ventricular function and hemodynamic performance of the homografts. Three patients with follow-up longer than 6 months had a second ecocardiographic study. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 4%. All hospital survivors were discharged in synus rhytm and with no diastolic murmur of aortic insufficiency. Hemodynamic performance of the autografts was excellent with low peak systolic gradients (4.0 ± 1.3 mmHg by echocardiography and 2.8 ± 1.2 mmHg by cardiac catheterism). Twenty-one patients had none or trivial autograft insufficiency and two presented with mild insufficiency. None had moderate or severe regurgitation. Peak systolic gradients in the homografts were also low (3.0 ± 0.9 mmHg by echocardiography and 4,3 ± 1,4 mmHg by catheterism) and only two had mild insufficiency. There was a significant reduction in left ventricular mass in the early postoperative period. After a mean follow-up of 5,1 months (1-9 months) all patients were in NYHA functional class I and free of events. Three patients with followup periods longerthan 6 months had asecond echocardiogram which showed normal left ventricular function and mass and adequate performance of the auto and homografts. CONCLUSION: The Ross operation can be done with low operative mortality and good short term results. We believe it will be widely employed by others in our country.

RESUMO

FUNDAMENTO: Em decorrência dos excelentes resultados tardios observados com a operação de Ross, sua utilização tem sido cada vez mais freqüente em vários Centros de todo o mundo. OBJETIVO: Relatar a experiência cirúrgica inicial com essa operação em nosso meio. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: De maio/95 a fevereiro/96,24 pacientes com média de idades de 28,3 anos foram submetidos à operação de Ross pelo método de substituição do segmento proximal da aorta ascendente. Para a reconstrução da via de saída do ventrículo direito, foram utilizados 17 homoenxertos pulmonares e 7 homoenxertos aórticos preservados em solução de antibióticos. Em todos os pacientes foram realizados ecocardiograma bidimensional com Doppler e cateterismo cardíaco no pós-operatório imediato, para avaliar a função ventricular e desempenho hemodinâmico dos auto e homoenxertos utilizados. Três pacientes com evolução clínica superior a seis meses realizaram novo ecocardiograma. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 4%. Os sobreviventes tiveram alta hospitalar em ritmo sinusal e sem sopro diastólico de insuficiência aórtica. O desempenho hemodinâmico dos auto-enxertos foi muito satisfatório, com baixos gradientes de pico (4,0 ± 1,3 mmHg pelo ecocardiograma e 2,8 ± 1,2 mmHg pelo cateterismo). Vinte e um pacientes apresentaram auto-enxertos suficientes e/ou com insuficiência trivial, e 2 pacientes tiveram insuficiência leve. Nenhum paciente teve insuficiência moderada ou importante. Os gradientes de pico dos homoenxertos também foram baixos (3,0 ± 0,9 mmHg pelo ecocardiograma e 4,3 ± 1,4 mmHg pelo cateterismo) e apenas 2 apresentaram insuficiência leve. Houve significativa redução das dimensões sistólica e diastólica do ventrículo esquerdo no pós-operatório imediato, assim como da massa ventricular esquerda. Após um tempo médio de seguimento clínico de 5,1 meses (1-9 meses), todos os pacientes encontram-se em classe funcional I e livres de eventos. Três pacientes, com tempo de evolução superior a seis meses, realizaram ecocardiograma, que demonstrou normalização da função e massa ventricular, assim como manutenção do adequado desempenho hemodinâmico dos enxertos. CONCLUSÕES: A operação de Ross pode ser realizada em nosso meio com baixa mortalidade e resultados satisfatórios a curto prazo. Acreditamos que será amplamente empregada.

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