Reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract with bovine pericardial monocusp patch

From November 1980 to May 1982, 19 patients underwent surgery in this institution for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Surgery was performed by placing a bovine pericardial monocusp patch across the pulmonary annulus. There was one hospital death (5.3%), and one late death. The follow-up ranged from 24 to 42 months (mean 32.5 +/- 5.3 months; total, 552 patient months). The condition of the remaining 17 patients is good. Repeat cardiac catheterization was performed in 11 patients and revealed that the right ventricular/pulmonary artery systolic gradient was reduced to 13.7 +/- 9.7 mm Hg postoperatively. Angiography showed a freely mobile, thin valve cusp. No calcification, aneurysmal dilatation, or shrinkage of the monocusp patch was observed. Our experience suggests that right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with bovine pericardial monocusp patches can be safely performed with good hemodynamic results.