Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography-Guided Valve Sizing for Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
Published on: January 20, 2022
Smaller-Sized Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Conduits With a Fan-Shaped Valve and Bulging Sinuses for Right
Eijiro Yamashita1, Masaaki Yamagishi1, Takako Miyazaki1
1Department of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Children's Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Background:
One of the critical factors limiting conduit longevity in right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction with homografts and xenografts is the small size of the conduit. The aim of our study was to assess the outcome of using smaller-sized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) conduits with a fan-shaped valve and bulging sinuses for RVOT reconstruction.
Methods:
This retrospective review examined 303 patients who underwent RVOT reconstruction with ePTFE conduits at 63 Japanese hospitals between 2003 and 2014. Inclusion criteria were a conduit size less than or equal to 16 mm and the use of operative treatment as the primary correction for underlying heart disease. Patients undergoing palliative procedures were excluded.
Results:
Median follow-up was 1.7 years. Freedom from conduit replacement and freedom from conduit reintervention were 90.1% ± 4.8% and 77.2% ± 5.6%, respectively. The most common indication for conduit reintervention was pulmonary artery (PA) bifurcation stenosis (82%). Modeling z-scores as a dichotomous variable revealed that freedom from conduit reintervention for PA bifurcation stenosis was significantly decreased for conduits with a z-score greater than or equal to 1.4 compared with z-scores less than 1.4 (p = 0.036). There were 30 patients (9.9%) who experienced at least moderate conduit stenosis and 21 patients (6.9%) with at least moderate conduit insufficiency. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that conduit size was a significant factor for conduit stenosis (p = 0.006).
Conclusions:
Excellent midterm outcomes were achieved with ePTFE valved conduits, even when using smaller sizes. Conduit z-scores around 1.4 were optimal for RVOT reconstruction in younger patients.
