The primary objective of this retrospective study of valve replacement is to document long-term survival and occurrence of valve related complications such as described in the literature; anticoagulant related bleeding event , thromboembolic events, subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE), structural failure or deterioration , valve thrombosis, explantation and reimplantation with reason, death and death cause, and cerebrovascular accidents either permanent or transient in nature.

Secondary to this is the presumption that mechanical valves have a superior “life expectancy “ to bio-prosthetic valves. We plan to look at the time of freedom from re-implantation from different types of valves, factoring in patient age, size ,defect and risk factors.

The information learned from this study may benefit future patients who undergo the Ross procedure by increasing our knowledge of safer and/or more effective techniques.