Early results of valved bovine jugular vein conduit versus bicuspid homograft for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
Homograft conduits are preferable for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in children, but their limited availability remains a major concern. Recently, a valve-containing segment of bovine jugular vein (Contegra, Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN) has been introduced as a potential alternative conduit.


METHODS
Early clinical and echocardiographic results of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction were retrospectively compared between 41 children (mean age, 1.9 years), receiving a Contegra conduit and 36 patients (mean age, 2.7 years) with a size-reduced pulmonary homograft.


RESULTS
Clinical outcome was comparable with two early deaths in the homograft group and one in the Contegra group. There were no conduit-related complications in either population. Early echocardiographic assessment showed only trivial to mild regurgitation in 9 homografts versus 17 Contegra conduits. The peak gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract conduit was comparable for both groups, although a larger number of patients, treated with a downsized homograft, had a small gradient at the distal junction with the pulmonary arteries (12 versus 6 patients). None of the patients had a gradient at the valvar level.


CONCLUSIONS
The valved bovine jugular vein conduit offers a promising substitute for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in infants and children, with an early hemodynamic performance that compares favorably with downsized, bicuspid homografts. Clinical advantages are greater shelf availability and the natural continuity between valve and conduit, which allows proximal infundibular shaping without additional material. However, durability must be determined, even though most of these children will require right ventricular outflow tract reoperation after outgrowing the conduit.
Bové
Thierry
T
Cardiac Unit, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, U.L.B.-V.U.B., Brussels, Belgium. thierry.bove@wanadoo.be
Demanet
Hélène
H
Wauthy
Pierre
P
Goldstein
Jacques P
JP
Dessy
Hugues
H
Viart
Pierre
P
Devillé
Andrée
A
Deuvaert
Frank E
FE
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*