Evaluation of downsized homograft conduits for right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery reconstruction

Abstract

Objective: Although homograft conduits are frequently used to establish right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity, the limited availability of small-size homografts is a significant constraint in pediatric cardiac surgery. We compared the performance of standard homograft conduits with that of surgically reduced bicuspid homograft conduits in patients undergoing repair of truncus arteriosus. Methods: Forty infants undergoing complete repair of truncus arteriosus with either standard homografts (n = 26) or reduced-size bicuspid homografts (n = 14) were evaluated. Results: The median downsized conduit diameter (13 mm) was similar to the standard homograft diameter (12 mm, P = .52). There ..