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The Ross procedure, sometimes called the switch procedure, is a heart surgery where doctors take out a damaged aortic valve and swap it with the patient’s own pulmonary valve. Then, they replace the pulmonary valve with a donor valve. Kids and infants sometimes need this kind of aortic valve replacement, but using a prosthetic valve just doesn’t work well for them. For one thing, there aren’t really any prosthetic valves small enough. Plus, as kids grow, their hearts get bigger, but the prosthetic valve stays the same size. That leads to problems like left ventricular outflow obstruction.
Some people also don’t want to spend their whole life taking blood thinners, which would be necessary with a prosthetic valve. That’s where the Ross procedure really works out. It offers great blood flow, and the risk of clots breaking off and causing trouble is nearly zero. Best of all, the new valve grows as the child grows.
Still, the Ross procedure isn’t perfect. After about 15 to 20 years, the pulmonary homograft—the donor valve—can start leaking or get narrow, which means another surgery down the road.
Surgeons first tried the Ross procedure back in the late 1960s, and it’s become a well-known operation since then. It’s still the only way to replace the aortic valve with a living valve that can adapt and grow. Over time, doctors have tweaked and improved the technique, but the core idea behind the surgery hasn’t really changed.
What is Ross Procedure?
The Ross Procedure—people sometimes call it the pulmonary autograft—is a pretty unique heart surgery used to treat aortic valve disease. Here’s how it works: the surgeon takes out your damaged aortic valve and swaps in your own pulmonary valve from the right side of your heart. Then, they put a donor or artificial valve where the pulmonary one used to be.
Why go through all this? For starters, it gets your blood flowing the way it should and helps your heart work better. Plus, unlike with mechanical valves, you usually don’t have to take blood thinners for life, which is a big deal—especially for kids and young adults who’d rather avoid that hassle.
This procedure really shines for younger patients. Using your own tissue means the new valve is more likely to grow and adapt with you, which is huge for kids who have a lot of growing left to do. Doctors often turn to the Ross Procedure for problems like aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation—basically, when the aortic valve gets stiff or leaky and starts causing trouble.
So, during surgery, the team removes the faulty aortic valve, moves your pulmonary valve into its place, and plugs the gap with a donor or prosthetic valve. This approach does more than just fix the immediate problem; it gives younger patients a shot at a more natural, longer-lasting fix.
It is necessary to prepare the Ross Procedure in order to achieve the optimal results. The steps to be taken by patients are as follows:
Pre-Procedure Consultation
Arrange an extensive check-up with your cardiologist and surgeon. Talk about your medical history, medications and any worries that you have.
Diagnostic Tests
Medication Review
Share all the drugs you are taking with your healthcare team, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Before the procedure, you may have to avoid some drugs, e.g. blood thinners.
Lifestyle Modifications
Pre-Operative Instructions
Emotional Preparation
Before surgery, it is natural to be anxious. It is important to think about sharing your feelings with your family or friends or a mental health professional. Support groups may be a good idea as well.
Plan for Recovery
Discuss Anesthesia
Discuss with your anesthesiologist the kind of anesthesia that will be administered and any doubts that you may have about the same.
Follow-Up Appointments
Make follow-ups that you need to ensure that your recovery and heart health are monitored after the procedure.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Knowing about the Ross Procedure can reduce feelings of anxiety and help you to know what to expect during this procedure. Here, I will describe how each of these steps takes place.
Pre-Operative Preparation: On the day of your surgery, you will go to the hospital and register for your admission. A nurse will take measurements of your vital signs, and you will be fitted with an iv (intravenous) line which is used mainly to give you various medications and NuFluids (IVs).
Anesthesia: You will visit with your anesthesiologist who will go over the entire process of anesthesia prior to your procedure. You will be given a general anesthetic, putting you to sleep and relieving pain during the surgery.
Incision: Your surgeon will perform a surgical incision down through the mid-to-lower part of your chest (the breastbone) to access your heart. This incision is called a median sternotomy and is used commonly to gain access to the heart for surgery.
Heart-Lung Machine: Your surgeon will connect you to a heart-lung machine after your heart has been accessed. The heart-lung machine takes over the function of both your heart and lungs so that your surgeon can operate on a motionless organ.
Aortic Valve Removal: The surgeon will make the diseased aortic valve and cautiously will remove it.
Harvesting of the Pulmonary Valve: The surgeon will then remove the self pulmonary valve (the one that regulates the blood flow to the lungs) and place it into the aorta.
Pulmonary Valve Replacement: There will be the replacement of the removed pulmonary valve with a donor valve or a prosthetic valve. This is an important step in order to have an adequate blood supply in the lungs.
Closure: Once the new aortic valve has been installed the heart is re-initiated and the heart-lung machine is removed. The surgeon will next sew up the chest by wiring the sternum and sewing the skin.
Postoperative Care: The procedure will be followed by taking you to the recovery room, where the medical staff will balance your vital signs and check to make sure that you are stable. You can take a couple of hours to recover and then be transferred to a hospital room.
Hospital Stay: The average period that most patients spend in the hospital is approximately 5 or 7 days based on their recovery levels. At this period, you will get pain management, physical therapy and education on how to take good care of yourself after surgery.
Discharge Instructions: The discharge instructions will involve your healthcare team providing directions on how to take care of yourself at home such as medication, limits of activities, and follow-up.
Follow-Up Care: To make sure the new valve is operating well and to keep an eye on your heart function, you will need to schedule regular follow-up appointments. The frequency of these visits will be determined by your healthcare provider.
The average cost of the Ross Procedure in India ranges from USD 6000 to USD 9000.
Cost of Ross procedure in Major Cities of India
|
City |
Minimum Cost (USD) |
Maximum Cost (USD) |
|
Ahmedabad |
USD 5400 |
USD 8100 |
|
Bangalore |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Chennai |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Delhi |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Faridabad |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Ghaziabad |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Gurgaon |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Hyderabad |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Kochi |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Kolkata |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Mohali |
USD 5400 |
USD 8100 |
|
Mumbai |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Noida |
USD 6000 |
USD 9000 |
|
Pune |
USD 5400 |
USD 8100 |
Ross Procedure is normally recommended when patients have a considerable number of symptoms associated with aortic valve disease. Typical symptoms that can cause the consideration of this procedure are:
These symptoms are commonly associated with other disorders like aortic stenosis, which causes the aortic valve to be narrowed or aortic regurgitation, which causes the valve to leak backward into the heart. These conditions may cause severe complications as they progress and may result in heart failure, arrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac arrest.
The Ross Procedure is normally suggested when there is any aortic valve illness serious enough to cause surgery. This is usually arrived at after a clinical assessment, imaging tests, and the health condition of the patient. The Ross Procedure is a procedure that surgeons might find beneficial in younger patients or patients who are in good shape and do not want to be subjected to the long-term complications of mechanical valves.
There are also instances where a patient with aortic valve disease can be referred to the Ross Procedure in case he or she has another underlying heart condition, like a congenital heart defect. It is a versatile cardiac surgery that can be done together with other cardiac surgeries.
The Ross operation has risks and potential problems, just like any other surgical operation. To make an informed choice, it's critical to be aware of these. Below is a summary of the procedure's typical and uncommon risks:
Common Risks:
Rare Risks:
Valve Functioning: The new valve may have problems with its function. If this happens, you may require additional treatments for the valve.
Stroke: You could have a small risk of having a stroke as a result of blood clots or pieces coming loose when you have the surgery done.
Heart Attack: It is rare but possible to have a heart attack either during or after your procedure.
Neurological Injury: You may experience temporary or permanent neurological injuries like memory loss or trouble speaking.
Anesthesia: There is an extremely low likelihood of any side effects occurring as a result of anesthesia.
Long-Term Considerations:
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