title: Contegra valved conduit in the paediatric population: an exciting prospect for right ventricle to pulmonary artery reconstruction; experience and outcomes at Aga Khan University.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The focus of this study is to share the experience and outcomes of Contegra graft implantation in the paediatric and adult population in Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2007 and July 2011, 16 patients, underwent implantation of a Contegra valved conduit. All operations were performed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. Indications included: Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n = 11), Tetralogy of Fallot with absent Pulmonary Valve (PV) syndrome (n = 2), double outlet right ventricle, transposition of great arteries and pulmonary stenosis (n = 1), isolated aortic valve disease (n = 1) and a pseudo-aneurysm with infective endocarditis (n = 1).Conduit sizes varied between 16-22 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three in hospital deaths were unrelated to the Contegra valved conduit. One patient was lost to follow up. Of the 12 survivors, 10 are currently free from re-operation or complications related to the conduit while one needed distal pulmonary artery dilatation owing to critical stenosis and another had severe Valvular regurgitation. Echocardiographic evaluation of the Contegra valved conduit demonstrated no haemodynamically significant valve regurgitation in 10 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small review of 16 operations using the Contegra valved conduit for Right Venticular Outflow Tract (RVOT) reconstruction in the paediatric population, we observed good post operative results concerning conduit function. The Contegra conduit provides an excellent substitute to the homograft with satisfactory early and mid-term results though long-term results are awaited in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, University of Karachi.
authors.forename: Maria Tariq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohsin
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Muhammad Muneer
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amanullah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056346:Sternotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome