A new prosthesis for reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract

A new left ventricular outflow tract prosthesis is described. It consists of a tightly woven Dacron graft with one end modified by being wrapped around a thin perforated stainless steel tube to form a rigid left ventricular insertion port and the other end anastomosed to a Hancock xenograft valved conduit for suture to the arterial system. The prosthesis is simple in design and flexible enough to permit anastomosis to any portion of the abdominal aorta. In addition, since the entire blood conduit consists of a porous woven arterial graft and a tissue valve, anticoagulants are not required. The prosthesis has been successfully employed in a 7-year-old boy who had undergone two previous open-heart operations for resection of a subaortic ring but who had persistent evidence of severe residual stenosis. We believe this conduit has advantages over present commercially available units.