Objective: Evaluate long-term results of autologous pericardial valved cond
uits in the pulmonary outflow.
Methods: Between June 1983 and October 1993, 82 conduits were placed in the
outflow of the venous ventricle, Patients who received homografts (n = 2 p
atients), heterografts (n = 3 patients), and valveless conduits (n = 19 pat
ients) and those patients who died within 90 days after the operation were
excluded. Fifty-four survivors of pulmonary outflow reconstruction with fre
sh autologous pericardial valved conduits were followed up from 5 to 15 yea
rs (mean, 7.47 +/- 2.8 years). Diagnosis include D-transposition of great a
rteries (n = 16 patients), L-transposition of great arteries (n = 14 patien
ts), tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect
(n = 11 patients), truncus arteriosus (n = 10 patients), and double-outlet
ventricle (n = 3 patients). Implantation age ranged from 0.25 to 24 years (
mean, 5.2 +/- 4.2 years). Median conduit diameter was 16 mm. Two-dimensiona
l echocardiographic Doppler evaluations were made yearly; 9 patients underw
ent cardiac catheterization. Reintervention fur stenosis was indicated when
the pressure gradient exceeded 50 mm Hg.