[Roll repair of nonconfluent pulmonary artery]

We reviewed the repair of nonconfluent pulmonary artery using a roll to clarify indication of this operation, operative technique (especially the material and the size of conduit) and possibility of total correction. Eleven patients (mean age: five years) and 13 operations including two reoperations were reviewed. The material of the roll was xenopericardium in nine and artificial graft in four operations. No operative death and late death occurred. Five patients required reoperations from three occlusion and two severe stenosis of the roll. Three of nine xenopericardial roll needed reoperations and in two reoperated cases, the roll had been placed behind the aorta. In contrast, one artificial graft needed reoperation. The diameter of the roll was compared with that of normal pulmonary artery estimated from the body surface area. If the roll was too large (more than 125% normal) or too small (less than 100% normal), the luminal diameter of the roll became significantly smaller than appropriate-sized roll (p = 0.002). The size of nonconfluent side of the pulmonary artery also affect the result of repair. In occluded or stenotic cases, the unilateral PA index was significantly smaller than good patent cases (p = 0.014). Total correction was possible in eight cases (73%) including four Rastelli operation, two right ventricular outflow patch enlargement, and two modified Fontan operations without operative death. Thus preoperative evaluation of the pulmonary artery size and anatomy, selection of roll material and size matching seemed to be important for successful roll repair of nonconfluent pulmonary artery.