[Use of PTFE (Gore-Tex) in pulmonary systemic anastomoses. Apropos of 50 cases]

Between 1977 and 1981 palliative anastomosis procedures between the subclavian and pulmonary arteries using a PTFE (Gore-Tex) prosthesis for anatomical reasons (short subclavian artery or trajectory incompatible with a Blalock-Taussig anastomosis) were carried out in 50 patients from 1 day to 24 years of age with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Two groups of patients were identified: ten patients in which the PTFE prosthesis was used as an "extension" to the subclavian artery, and 40 patients in which the PTFE was interposed between the respected subclavian and pulmonary arteries. There were three deaths (6 p. 100) at 1,7 and 15 days after surgery (mean mortality 5,7 and 12,3 p. 100). There were no major complications in the survivors. Two prostheses became occluded, one of which was reanastomosed to the ascending aorta. The follow-up ranges from 6 months to 5,5 years. The angiographic investigations performed before complete repair demonstrated the patency and good function of these anastomoses.