Background: The choice of an optimal method for correction of aortic valve stenosis or insufficiency remains the matter of debate. Some clinicians prefer transluminal balloon angioplasty, some would perform an open type commissurotomy, or aortic valve replacement, or to valve leaflets repair with various materials, while others opt for the Ross procedure. Each of these techniques has its advantages and disadvantages both in the early postoperative period and in the long-term.Aim: To assess the results of the Ross procedure, its complications, survival, and probability of reoperations in the long-term.Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the results of 32 Ross procedures performed from the end of 2012 to the beginning of 2019 in children aged from 3 days to 18 years. Eight children were below 1 year of age, including one newborn. A pulmonary autograft was placed into the aortic position in all children. In 31 children, a homograft was placed into the pulmonary artery. In one patient, an aortic autograft was implanted instead of the pulmonary artery valve. The mean patient age was 6.8 years, mean bodyweight 27.7 kg (range, 3.9–74.6 kg).Results: Two patients died in the early postoperative period (mortality 6.25%). We examined 26  patients at the follow-up, with its mean duration of 2.5 years. There were no indications for replacement of the homograft during the follow-up. One patient, in whom we had implanted an aortic autograft into the pulmonary position, required its replacement after 4.5  years. We have no data on death rates in the long-term.Conclusion: The Ross procedure provides satisfactory results in the early and intermediate postoperative period. Continuous follow-up is needed to determine the time points and the proportion of repeated interventions with a  pulmonary homograft and aortic valve.

Rationale: The surgical procedure for partial abnormal pulmonary venous return (PAPV) implies the formation of a tunnel between the orifices of the right pulmonary veins and the left atrial cavity with the interatrial septum repair. To avoid any obstruction of the tunnel, a direct anastomosis between the superior vena cava (SVC) and the right atrial appendage is placed in a number of cases. However, the reparative procedure is potentially associated with such complications as SVC stenosis and/or pulmonary vein stenosis. Aim: To present our experience of reoperations for stenosis of systemic and pulmonary veins after primary PAPV repair. Materials and methods: From 2014 to 2018, seven patients (boys, 4) with SVC stenosis and/or with stenosis of the right pulmonary veins have been admitted to the FCHMT (Kaliningrad). Their mean bodyweight was 29.1 kg (± 12.5 kg), mean age 9.3 years (± 3.6 years). Three patients had an isolated SVC stenosis. In two patients, there was a combination of SVC stenosis and pulmonary vein obstruction (from stenosis to complete occlusion); in one patient the right pulmonary vein stenosis had been caused by thrombosis. SVC stenosis with subaortal obstruction after the repair of double-outlet right ventricle was diagnosed in one case. In six patients, various procedures for correction of SVC and/or pulmonary vein stenosis were performed. Only in one case the obstruction of systemic veins, confirmed by cardiac catheterization, turned out to be non-significant, making a reoperation unnecessary. Results: There were no deaths in this patient group. Endovascular procedures were performed in two patients. In one case, there was an unsuccessful attempt of transluminal balloon angioplasty for SVC stenosis, with subsequent Warden procedure. In another case, a 16-year old patient with SVC stenosis and high pulmonary hypertension was admitted after two previous surgeries had failed. We used a homograft as SVC prosthesis; however, after one year, a re-stenosis was identified. In this case, a SVC stent placement was successful. Due to sick sinus syndrome at one year after the Warden procedure and the repair of pulmonary veins by a homograft, an implantation of electric cardiac pacemaker was necessary in one patient. Conclusion: The curative repair of partial abnormal venous return is a well-established surgical technique with satisfactory shortand long-term results. A potential complication of the procedure is an obstruction of systemic and pulmonary veins. To prevent such complications during primary defect repair, as well as with reoperations for vein stenosis, the Warden procedure seems effective and highly reproducible technique associated with lower surgical risks.