Long-term outcome after the Ross procedure in 173 adults with up to 25 years of follow-up.

Objectives: The potential risk of autograft dilatation and homograft stenosis after the Ross procedure mandates lifelong follow-up. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine long-term outcome of the Ross procedure, investigating autograft and homograft failure patterns leading to reintervention.

Methods: All adults who underwent the Ross procedure between 1991 and 2018 at the University Hospitals Leuven were included, with follow-up data collected retrospectively.

Integrated Signal Amplification on a Fiber Optic SPR Sensor Using Duplexed Aptamers.

Throughout the past decades, fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR)-based biosensors have proven to be powerful tools for both the characterization of biomolecular interactions and target detection. However, as FO-SPR signals are generally related to the mass that binds to the sensor surface, multistep processes and external reagents are often required to obtain significant signals for low molecular weight targets. This increases the time, cost, and complexity of the respective bioassays and hinders continuous measurements.

The long-term outcome of an isolated vascular ring - A single-center experience.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study is to document the long-term outcome of patients with a vascular ring.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review of clinical symptoms was conducted in all patients born between 1980 and 2013, diagnosed with a complete vascular ring and at least 2 years of follow-up. Data were extracted from patient files and clinical symptoms were assessed by questionnaires sent to the parents.

Durability of homografts used to treat complex aortic valve endocarditis.

Background: Acute bacterial endocarditis may be extremely destructive for cardiac valves and their periannular structures. It has been suggested that complex reconstruction procedures require the use of homografts because of their versatility and potency to resist repeated infection.

Methods: We studied the long-term results of 69 patients with complex endocarditis who received homografts in the aortic position.

20 years of arterial switch operation for simple TGA.

Background: Arterial switch operation became the golden treatment for simple transposition of the great arteries (sTGA). We describe our experience with the arterial switch operation regarding long-term outcome and the need for re-intervention. Nevertheless, supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SPS) remains a concern in the long run.