title: Pulmonary homografts: current status.
abstract: Pulmonary homografts are used more frequently in cardiac surgery. They are used primarily for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, both in children with complex congenital disease and in adults undergoing the Ross procedure for aortic valve replacement. They have been used for left ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, but they are less,durable in this high-pressure position. They have excellent hemodynamic characteristics, require no anticoagulation, and are free from problems of thromboembolism. However, there is concern that over time pulmonary homografts may develop stenosis secondary to low-grade immune reactions. Even as they become more popular, a shortage of available grafts may limit their use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756-0001, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dacey
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*