Modification of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene valved conduit using the thin-type leaflets

The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene conduit with fan-shaped leaflets and bulging sinuses for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction was modified with a newly developed thin-type expanded polytetrafluoroethylene leaflet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and hemodynamic performance of the modified conduit. From January 2010 to December 2013, 149 patients underwent definitive right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction using the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene conduit; the 55 patients receiving a conventional conduit (group N) were compared with the 94 patients receiving a modified conduit (group T). There were no conduit-related deaths, operative deaths, or reimplantations for conduit failure. The overall survival and freedom from reintervention for conduit-related reasons at 3 years were 98.2% versus 95.6% (P = .438) and 94.7% versus 97.9% (P = .954) for groups N and T, respectively. The mean peak pressure gradients were 22.6 ± 15.6 mm Hg versus 18.2 ± 11.5 mm Hg (P = .161), and in the subanalysis within small-sized conduits, they were 30.2 ± 16.5 mm Hg versus 20.4 ± 10.7 mm Hg (P = .034). Regarding conduit insufficiency, the modified conduit showed a significantly worse grade of insufficiency (P = .014) only in the subanalysis within large-sized conduits. Although the clinical outcomes did not differ within midterm observation, the thin-type expanded polytetrafluoroethylene leaflet was considered to be suitable for the small-sized conduits, but not for large-sized conduits, based on the comparison of the hemodynamic performance. Long-term follow-up is necessary to address the appropriate sheet type for middle-sized conduits and to estimate the durability of the thin-type leaflet.