title: Initial pediatric cardiac experience with decellularized allograft patches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines use patterns, early outcomes, and technical surgical adaptability of a newly approved decellularized allograft pulmonary artery patch for right ventricular outflow tract reconstructions in neonates and infants, including primary operations and reoperations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study includes the 44 consecutive initial patients in which 46 patches were used for cardiovascular reconstruction between September 2009 and September 2010. Recorded variables include sex, age at operation, adverse outcome end points (eg, death, stenosis, aneurysm), congenital diagnoses, postoperative complications, and number, type, and location of patches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were a mean age of 290±343 days at operation, and 54.5% were boys. Three types of patch were used: 58.7% thin, 21.7% thick, and 19.6% hemipulmonary. No device-related deaths or adverse events occurred. A biopsy specimen of one patch at elective reoperation demonstrated active recellularization, with no inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These patches have a wide range of applicability. Handling and technical flexibility is excellent and superior to standard options. There appears to be potential for autologous revitalization of the tissue.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Gary K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lofland
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Kimberly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gandy
authors.forename: Pam A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mastbergen
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*