title: Experience and intermediate-term results using the Contegra heterograft for right ventricular outflow reconstruction in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Contegra bioprosthesis (valved heterologous bovine jugular vein) is used for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in congenital heart malformations and pulmonary valve replacement in different settings. Compared to pulmonary homografts, the Contegra conduit is readily available 'on the shelf'. So far, its use was mainly described in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the outcome of Contegra graft implantation in the adult.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 1999 and December 2007, a total of 32 Contegra grafts were implanted in 31 patients (24 men and 7 women), with a mean age of 35.7+/-10.5 years (range 18-54 years). All operations have been completed through median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. Indications included: Ross procedure for aortic valve disease (n=22); re-operation of corrected Fallot-tetralogy (n=5); isolated pulmonary valve disease (n=2); re-operation of double outlet right ventricle (DORV) (n=1); pulmonary stenosis in congenital dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n=1). Conduit sizes included 22 mm (n=31), 20 mm (n=1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no hospital mortality and no valved conduit related early morbidity. In the median follow-up of 38 months (range 1-99 months) of 28 patients there was one late death, not conduit related (total mortality 3.6%). Re-operation for symptomatic graft stenosis was realised in two patients, 7 and 16 months after primo-implantation, corresponding to graft related late morbidity of 7.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small review of 32 operations using the Contegra graft for RVOT reconstruction in adult cardiac surgery for different indications, we observed good postoperative mid-term results concerning conduit function. Mean transpulmonary pressure gradients remain low (13.3+/-6.6 mmHg postoperative, 14.5+/-7.9 mmHg at follow-up). The use of the Contegra graft seems to be a good alternative to the homograft with low operative mortality and morbidity. Long-term outcome data are not available and further investigations must be performed to evaluate results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Lars.Niclauss@CHUV.ch
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niclauss
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delay
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurni
authors.forename: Ludwig K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: von Segesser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002417:Cattle; D004452:Echocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D056346:Sternotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055422:Venous Valves / Q000637:transplantation*; D055815:Young Adult