Safe surgical strategy for extracardiac conduit replacement in common arterial trunk

Abstract

Repair of common arterial trunk using an extracardiac right ventricular to pulmonary arterial conduit is the preferred method in most cardiac surgical centres. Reoperation is a fact of life for survivors of common arterial trunk and related cardiac lesions who have undergone such repairs. Long-term survivors may require periodic conduit revisions, with a potentially escalating technical difficulty and risk. Herein we present an analysis of the currently available choices for extracardiac conduits, and outline what we consider to be a safe and reliable surgical strategy for conduit revision.