Zhang HF, et al. - Researchers here documented the clinical application of simplified hand-sewn trileaflet valved conduit as an alternative for Bovine jugular vein (BJV) graft. They identified that in comparison to conventional BJV grafts, the novel simplified hand-sewn trileaflet valved conduits appeared associated with lower incidences of perioperative complication, graft failure, and early-phase mortality.

Methods

• This study recruited 68 patients who underwent 76 conduits implantation including 22 new simplified hand-sewn trileaflet valved conduits (Group A) and 54 BJV grafts (Group B).
• For patients in Group A, researchers applied a hand-sewn trileaflet valved conduit with valves made of autologous pericardium or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
• Analysis of baseline, perioperative, and outcomes was performed.

Results

• There appeared no early mortality or perioperative complication in Group A, while 2 patients died and 16 patients suffered from conduits failure due to conduits stenosis (n = 11), stenosis plus regurgitation (n = 3), and regurgitation alone (n = 2) in Group B.
• Within 1, 3, 5, and 7 years, freedom from BJV grafts failure was 98.0%, 88.2%, 83.6% and 83.6% in Group A, and 98.0%, 85.8%, 76.8% and 62.1% in Group B.
• In Group B, endocarditis was encountered in 9 patients, but it was not observed in Group A.
• As per subsequent analysis, endocarditis seemed the only significant predictor of BJV grafts failure (odds ratio: 6.202, 95% confidence intervals 1.237~31.108).