Publication

Abstract : Aortic valve replacement and choice of prosthesis is a challenge in children as compared to adults. The situation is complicated by the problems of growth in children, leading to patient prosthesis mismatch and requirement of anticoagulation. Inspite of variety of mechanical and biological valve designs, an ideal valve is still a distant dream[1]. An ideal valve prosthesis in children should offer good hemodynamics even in small sizes, avoid anticoagulation and should grow with the child. Small prosthesis which do not grow with the child become obstructive and require re-do surgery. The pulmonary autograft or Ross operation I, as an aortic valve replacement provides the solution to most of the problems, in which the aortic valve is replaced by the pulmonary valve of the patient and pulmonary valve is replaced by a homograft or a valved conduit [2]. We report our experience of the first case from armed forces.