Ross Operation

The Ross Operation is an excellent solution for younger patients who require aortic valve replacement (AVR) and who wish to avoid blood thinning drugs such as warfarin. This may be attractive to keen sports players and women of childbearing age. It may also offer a more durable result delaying the requirement for re-operation. It involves switching the persons own pulmonary heart valve into the aortic valve position (autograft). A human donor valve is then used to complete the operation and replace the persons pulmonary valve (homograft). The Ross Operation is a technically demanding operation offered only by specialist aortic surgeons such as Mario Petrou.