Does intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography predict pulmonary valve dysfunction during the Ross procedure?
OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for the assessment of the pulmonary valve anatomy and the pulmonary autograft performance in patients undergoing the Ross procedure. DESIGN: Open, prospective, observational survey. SETTING: Favaloro Foundation, single institution. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients undergoing elective Ross procedure (n = 87). INTERVENTIONS: Pulmonary valve function and anatomy were assessed by transesophageal echocardiography and the surgeon. Pulmonary autograft function was assessed after implantation. Regurgitation was considered mild (+/4), moderate (++/4), moderate-to-severe (+++/4), and severe (++++/4). Patients were restudied during midterm follow-up. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Ross procedure was done in 74 patients (85%). Overall mortality was 3.4%. Mean follow-up was 24 +/- 13 months. The Ross procedure was not done in 13 patients (15%): 6 patients had a bicuspid pulmonary valve, 6 patients had >3 mm f
