Valved conduits of bovine pericardium for right ventricle to pulmonary artery connections.

Between February 1991 and October 1994, 29 patients received right heart bovine pericardial valved conduits. Patients' ages ranged from 19 days to 18 years (mean 3.5 years), with 8 patients younger than 1 year of age. Ten patients had truncus arteriosus type II or III, 7 had pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD), 6 had transposition of the great arteries and pulmonary stenosis (PS), 3 had corrected transposition with VSD and PS, 2 had double-outlet right ventricle, and 1 had aortic atresia with normal left ventricle and VSD. Two hospital deaths (6.9%) occurred, but no late deaths. The postoperative serial echocardiographic studies showed a mean transconduit gradient of 16 mm Hg with a range of 2 to 37 mm Hg. All patients are in functional class I. Although the intermediate results are satisfactory, considering the late complications known from others conduits, long-term follow-up is necessary.