ABSTRACT
For women requiring valve replacement surgery, it is unclear which type of valve offers
the greatest chance of a healthy pregnancy. This case describes a successful pregnancy
outcome following the Ross procedure, which involves replacing the aortic valve with
an autologous pulmonary valve. Due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction,
this patient required an aortic valve replacement surgery. She underwent the Ross
procedure at age 16 and became pregnant 11 years later. During pregnancy, she was
able to avoid the risks of anticoagulation. She underwent an assisted second stage
of labor and went on to deliver a healthy infant. This case illustrates that the Ross
procedure may be an alternative treatment for aortic valve replacements in women of
child-bearing age.
KEYWORDS
Congenital heart disease - pregnancy - Ross procedure - anticoagulation - heart valves
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Unzila AliM.D.
Yale University
P.O. Box 208063, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8063
Email: unzila.ali@yale.edu
