Study of autologous pericardial patch-grafts in the right ventricular outflow tracts in growing and adult dogs.
The effects of growth and hemodynamic load on autologous pericardial grafts in the right ventricular outflow tract were studied in adult dogs (nine) and pups (12); ten of the 21 also had bands around the main pulmonary artery. All grafts functioned without radiographic evidence of abnormality for up to 14 months. At necropsy small central aneurysms were found in patches in three pups. Fibrous organization extending from the margins and adventitial aspect considerably thickened each patch. Cartilaginous metaplasia was evident in the ingrowing host tissue in many animals (57%). Small foci of necrotic pericardium and dystrophic calcification were evident in half of the grafts in pups but not in those in adult dogs. Patches in animals with normal pressures showed a reduction (p < 0.05) in the axis which lay in the direction of blood flow but no increase in the transverse axis. Only those patches subjected to elevated pressures in adult dogs showed an increase in patch size. These findings indicate that autologous pericardium is a suitable material for use in the surgical enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004285:Dogs; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous