RIGHT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT RECONSTRUCTION DURING THE ROSS PROCEDURE: COMPARISON OF PULMONARY ALLOGRAFTS AND PERICARDIAL XENOGRAFTS

Aim The aim of this study was to compare the results of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction during the Ross procedure with pulmonary allografts versus diepoxide-treated pericardial xenografts. Methods Between 1998 and 2015, 793 adult patients underwent the Ross procedure. The right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction was performed with pulmonary allografts in 185 patients, diepoxide-treated pericardial xenografts in 402 patients. Two groups of patients (122 patients in each group) were allocated using «propensity score matching»: the allograft group (pulmonary allograft) and the xenograft group (xenograft). Surgical results in two groups were assessed. Results The overall early mortality rate in both groups was 2.5%. The mean follow-up was 5,1±2,6 years in the allograft group and 5,2±2,8 years in xenograft group (p = 0,692). The 5-year survival rate did not differ between the study groups (93,7±2,6% in the allograft group versus 94,02±2,4% in the xenograft group, p = 0.748). The peak pressure gradients across the right ventricular outflow tract in early and mid-term follow-up were significantly higher in the xenograft group. Two patients in the xenograft group underwent redo surgeries due to the graft failure. There were no reoperations in the allograft group (p = 0,176). The freedom from right ventricular outflow tract reoperations was 96,3±2,7% for the xenograft group. Conclusion The diepoxide-treated pericardial xenografts demonstrates acceptable haemodynamic results at the mid-term follow-up and could be considered as an alternative to allografts for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction during the Ross procedure in adults. Further study focused on the assessment of the longterm results are required.

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