A bovine jugular vein conduit: a ten-year bi-institutional experience

We retrospectively reviewed the 12-year (1999 to 2010) clinical and echocardiographic performance of 232 bovine jugular vein conduits for extracardiac right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in non-Ross patients.

The bovine jugular vein conduit cohorts, group 1 (12 to 14 mm), group 2 (16 to 18 mm), and group 3 (20 to 22 mm), had mean follow-up of 48 ± 30 months. Graft dysfunction is defined as right ventricular outflow tract obstruction with peak echo Doppler gradient greater than 40 mm Hg or grade 3/4 valve regurgitation. Graft failure is the need for conduit replacement or transcatheter or surgical reintervention.

Early mortality (4 of 232; 2%) and late mortality (8 of 228; 3.5%) were not conduit related. Twenty-four conduits (10%) were explanted. Mean implant Z score was significantly lower for group 1 (1.7±0.08 versus group 2, 2.7±0.6, or group 3, 2.5±1.5; p=0.001). Ten-year actuarial survival (group 1, 84% versus 2, 100%, and 3, 99%; p=0.001) and freedom from conduit dysfunction (group 1, 64%; group 2, 92%; and group 3, 90%) and failure (group 1, 75%; 2, 82%; and 3, 91%; p=0.002) were significantly better for groups 2 and 3.

Bovine jugular vein is an excellent immediate substitute for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, with early durability superior to that of pulmonary homografts reported at similar follow-up. Conduits larger than 14 mm have improved performance. Longer follow-up will define the structural integrity and efficacy of this prosthesis.