Early and Late Results of Fresh Autologous Pericardial Valved Conduits

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early and late results of an autologous pericardial valved conduit in the pulmonary circulation. Between 1983 and 1997,86 autologous pericardial valved conduits were used to achieve venous ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity. The mean patient age at the time of implantation was 4.16 ± 4.10 years (15 days to 24 years). All patients had two-dimensional postoperative and yearly Doppler echocardiograms in which the valve function and the presence of distal, valvar, and proximal stenosis were evaluated. There were 13 early deaths (15%). Twenty-one patients (24.4%) showed trivial, 54 (62.8%) mild, nine (10.4%) moderate, and two (2.3%) severe pulmonary regurgitation in the early postoperative period. The 73 survivors were monitored from 1 to 15 years (mean, 6.5 years; median, 7.1 years). There were five late deaths. The mean conduit diameter at the time of implantation was 15.8 mm, increasing to 18.21 mm at last evaluation (P < .0001). There were nine reoperations, with only one conduit replacement. Freedom from reintervention at 5 and 10 years was 89% and 80%, respectively. In conclusion, autologous pericardial valved conduits provide good early and excellent long-term results that compare favorably with those of other conduits.