Hemodynamics after surgical repair with right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit

Abstract

To assess the results of cardiac repair utilizing a right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit, the authors reviewed postoperative hemodynamic data in 16 patients catheterized 0.5 to 5 yr after repair. In 12 patients, a Hancock conduit (dacron conduit with porcine valve) was used; the conduit in the remaining 4 patients was made with an aortic homograft. All patients in whom an aortic homograft was utilized developed severe obstruction and calcification of their graft. The majority of patients, 9/12, with a Hancock conduit, had only mild to moderate conduit obstruction; the remaining three had severe obstruction (gradients > 70 mm Hg). The sites of Hancock conduit obstruction were at the distal end of the conduit in 8/12, proximal end of conduit in 6/12, and at the porcine valve in 4/12 patients. The data suggest that repair with a Hancock conduit is hemodynamically more satisfactory than with aortic homograft.