A damaged aortic valve can pose a serious risk to your health, but there are treatments that can help you get in front of the disease.

The Ross procedure is a surgical option that replaces your damaged aortic valve with your own healthy pulmonary valve. A donor valve is then used to replace your pulmonary valve. Because the replaced aortic valve comes from your own body, it often functions more naturally and can support an active lifestyle for decades — without the lifelong use of blood thinners. Younger patients are often referred for the Ross procedure because of its positive long-term outcomes and improved success rate.

We’re here to guide you through every step, with clear explanations, expert care, and a compassionate approach tailored to your health goals.

Why Choose Us for the Ross Procedure

  • Experience you can trust: Our surgeons are recognized leaders in complex valve surgery. You'll receive care from a team known for strong outcomes and trusted expertise.
  • Diverse expertise: You'll have access to all the specialists you need, including specialized cardiologists, imaging experts, anesthesiologists, critical care teams, and cardiac rehab professionals.
  • Whole person care: We take time to understand your health goals, lifestyle, and long‑term health needs. Your treatment plan is tailored to you, with support before, during, and after surgery.
  • Experts in Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD): We are one of the few centers in our area with ACHD experts. Our clinic is one of the few where you'll find the specialists, technologies, and experience your heart needs.

Can I Benefit from the Ross Procedure?

The Ross procedure can offer excellent durability and more natural heart function for those who are still developing, making it especially effective for children, teens, and younger adults with severe aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation. It's also a strong option for individuals who want to avoid lifelong blood thinners and selected patients with congenital aortic valve disease or certain cases of infection‑related valve damage.

The Ross Procedure may not be appropriate for some patients. Talk to your cardiologist or cardiac surgeon to determine whether the Ross procedure is the safest and most effective choice for you.

Conditions We Treat

The Ross Procedure is considered for patients who have diseases affecting the aortic valve, including:

  • Aortic valve stenosis, narrowing of the aortic valve that leads to restricted blood flow from your heart to your body.
  • Aortic valve regurgitation, when the aortic valve doesn't close tightly, causing blood to leak backward into the heart.
  • Congenital aortic valve disease, an abnormality in the aortic valve present at birth. Children, teens, and young adults with this condition may benefit from the Ross Procedure as a way to support long‑term heart function and growth.
  • Infective endocarditis, when infection damages the aortic valve. Select cases of this condition may be treated with the Ross Procedure.

Recovery

Most patients spend several days in the hospital after the procedure. After you're discharged, you can expect gradual improvement over the next few weeks as you return to low-effort activities. It is important to know that strict blood pressure control is a must to ensure long term durability.

While recovery timelines vary, many people resume normal routines within 6-8 weeks. We collaborate closely with other specialized teams within our organization and monitor your progress through follow-up visits to help ensure your recovery is on track.

Take the Next Step

Our team is here to help you every step of the way. Call our cardiothoracic surgery clinic at 909-558-4208 to learn more or ask your cardiologist or primary care provider for a referral.

Referring providers: Call 909-558-4208 to refer a patient for aortic valve treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions