Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow and pulmonary artery with a composite pericardial monocusp patch: an experimental study.

A composite bovine pericardial monocusp patch was implanted in the right ventricular outflow tract of 30 dogs. The monocusp patch incorporates a molded sinus of Valsalva designed according to a computer-analyzed study of the normal anatomy. Twenty-two dogs survived the operation and were killed between 1 and 34 months postoperatively (mean, 19.5 +/- 3.5 months). Two implants showed signs of infective endocarditis 2 and 2.5 months, respectively, after operation; 1 was thrombosed at 7 months, and 1 was calcified 8 months postoperatively. In the remaining 18 animals, there was no stenosis, thrombosis, or degeneration of tissue in the monocusp. Macroscopic and microscopic studies of these grafts showed normal structure and pliability of the monocusp valve up to 34 months after operation.