Ross-Konno Procedure - Pulmonary Autograft
Also known as: pulmonary autograft.
What is Ross-Konno procedure?
Ross-Konno procedure is a surgery to repair a damaged aortic valve. The aortic valve is responsible for pumping blood from the heart out to the body. The left ventricular outflow tract is also enlarged as part of the Ross-Konno procedure.
What happens during the Ross-Kono procedure?
The Ross-Konno procedure is an open-heart surgery done under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass. It involves removing the damaged aortic valve, removing the pulmonary valve, and putting the pulmonary valve in place of the damaged aortic valve. Then a donated pulmonary valve (animal or human) is attached in place of the removed pulmonary valve. The left ventricular outflow tract is also enlarged to enhance blood flow.
Is any special preparation needed for Ross-Kono procedure?
You may need to avoid food or drink, as well as certain medications, for a period of time before the procedure.
Who requires this procedure?
The Ross-Konno procedure is used for some patients with aortic valve disease, including a common type known as aortic stenosis. In many cases, these types of diseases are present at birth due to congenital heart defects, though they can also occur over time with age, as well.
The Ross-Konno procedure is primarily used in infants, children and young adults with these conditions, though it can also be used in older adults in some circumstances.
What are the risk factors of the Ross-Kono procedure?
The risks of Ross-Konno procedure include:
- bleeding
- stroke
- heart attack
- infections
- breathing problems
- drug reactions
- arrhythmia
- possibly death
Ross-Konno procedure at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Ross-Konno procedure is performed by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s team of top-notch medical professionals using the most cutting-edge techniques.
What happens after the procedure?
The Ross-Konno procedure usually requires a hospital stay of a few days to ensure that the procedure was successful. Full recovery often takes several weeks, during which the patient may experience some discomfort and should avoid strenuous activity. In general, the outcomes for the patient after Ross-Konno procedure are positive, though frequent follow-up visits are typically required to ensure that recovery is progressing well.
What’s the difference between the Ross and Ross-Konno procedures?
The Ross procedure and Ross-Konno procedure are quite similar in that they both involve replacing a damaged aortic valve with a pulmonary valve, and then attaching a new donated pulmonary valve. The Ross-Konno procedure also involves the extra step of using an incision to enlarge the ventricular outflow tract to enhance blood flow.
Reviewed by: Madalsa Dipak Patel, MD
This page was last updated on: June 05, 2025 02:26 PM
April 03, 2019 – The Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has reported that all 270 children who underwent congenital heart surgery at Nicklaus Children’s in 2018 survived. Program directors are elated to report that as of this posting, more than 380 consecutive patients have undergone cardiac surgical procedures at the hospital without a single death.