Xenograft valved conduits were being used in several cardiac pathologies in the second half of last century. In this study we present mid term results of our patients in pediatric age who were operated with xenograft conduits. Between January 1999 and January 2005, 134 patients underwent open heart surgery with xenograft conduits. These conduits were used to establish the continuity of right ventricle to pulmonary artery, left ventricle to pulmonary artery and right ventricle to aorta or aorta itself due to various types of complex cardiac anomalies. Patients were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) in the follow ups in every 6 months. Cardiac catheterization was performed when ECHO demonstrated significant conduit failure.
Results: The mean CPB time and cross clamp times were 132.6+55 min, and 85.9+32 min respectively. Hospital mortality was seen in 28 patients (20.1%) and 13 patients died in the follow up period (9.7%). Mean follow up time was 24.6+14 months (13- 85). Twenty patients were reoperated due to conduit failure among 93 survivors (21.5%). Main reasons for conduit failure were stenosis (n=13), valvular regurgitation (n=2) and both in 5 cases. Mean pulmonary gradient before conduit re-replacement was 47.7+30.1 mmHg. There was no mortality in patients who were reoperated. Xenograft conduits should be closely followed for calcification and stenosis. Conduit stenosis is the major risk factor for reoperation. Reoperation for conduit replacement can be performed safely before deterioration of the cardiac performance in these high-risk patients.