Simplified Tricuspid Polytetrafluoroethylene Valved Conduit: Midterm Results of Multicenter Study

Conduit survival without significant dysfunction is important when selecting the right ventricular outflow tract conduit. We made an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tricuspid valved conduit using a simplified technique. We aimed to investigate the midterm functional results and longevity of this conduit.

Between November 2008 and December 2016, four hospitals in Korea implanted 145 valved conduits. We retrospectively analyzed their functional results and longevity.

The patients' median age at operation was 36.6 months; the median body weight was 11.3 kg. The mean follow-up duration was 32.3 ± 24.5 months. There were four inhospital deaths and three late deaths, but there were no conduit-related deaths. The mean peak systolic pressure gradient across the conduit was 14.7 ± 8.3 mm Hg and 31.6 ± 17.7 mm Hg at discharge and last follow-up, respectively. Six patients (4.4%) had moderate or more conduit valve regurgitation at last follow-up. Conduit dysfunction was observed in 30 patients (21.9%), mainly caused by increased pressure gradient (24 of 30, 80%). Freedom from conduit dysfunction was 88.1% and 58.5% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Lower freedom from conduit dysfunction was observed in small conduits. Eleven patients (7.8%) underwent conduit explantation, and freedom from explantation was 94.8% and 81.7% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. The main cause of explantation was conduit stenosis. Small conduits tended to have lower freedom from explantation.

Functional results and longevity of our expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tricuspid valved conduit are acceptable. Although our conduits tend to have increasing pressure gradient over time, especially in small conduits, they have low incidence of moderate or more regurgitation.