Medium-term outcomes of bovine jugular valved conduits for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in children: a retrospective cohort study from China

BACKGROUND: Bovine jugular valved conduit (BJVC) has been reported as an optional material for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction in patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD). It showed comparable or even better performance than homograft. However, the durability of BJVC is still very poor in infants and children. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed and evaluated the mid-term results of RVOT reconstruction by using bovine jugular vein valved conduits (Balance BJVCs) in CHD patients, with a special focus on the functional status of the conduits. METHODS: Pediatric patients undergoing RVOT reconstruction using Balance BJVC in Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center from January 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled in this study. The demographic information, cardiac anatomical abnormalities, preoperative hemodynamic characteristics, surgical details, postoperative outcomes, and follow-up data of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were enrolled in this study. The median age at implantation was 22 months (range, 2–168 months), the median weight was 10.8 kg (range, 3.8–40.0 kg); 34 children (36.2%) were younger than 1 year. The most common disease in these children was pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD) (66/94, 70.2%). The patients were followed up for a median of 43.5 months (range, 6–60 months). Late mortality occurred in 4 (4.3%). Cumulatively, conduit dysfunction at different levels occurred in 31 (33%), conduit failure in 9 (9.6%), 6 patients underwent reoperation for conduit replacement, 5 (5.3%) developed infective endocarditis (IE) within 24 months (range, 12–36 months) after the surgery. Five-year survival rate is 95.7%. The free of conduit dysfunction rates at 1, 3, and 5 years was 91.4%, 68.5%, and 50.4%, respectively. In addition, the rates of patients who were free of conduit failure at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 88.9%, and 88.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high risk of BJVC dysfunction, approximately 90% of children are free from conduit failure at 5 years after conduit implantation through aggressive transcatheter intervention without increasing the incidence of IE. Thus, BJVC remains a useful alternative material for RVOT reconstruction in patients with complex CHD.