Three Indications for Bovine Jugular Vein Grafts in a Single Tertiary Centre in Jeddah: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction and Aim of the Work: Bovine jugular vein grafts(Contegra) can be used not only in the reconstruction of an abnormal right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) but also for VSD repairs and as an extra-cardiac conduit for the Fontan circulation.(1-2-3-4-5). We aimed to present and review the preliminary results of contegra in the 3 different indications. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the available charts of 22 patients who needed contegra as an RVOT reconstive graft, 23 cases for Fontan extracardiac conduits and 8 cases of VSD in a single tertiary centre in Jeddah in more than 8 years between 2002 and 2011. The available demographic data, operative, ECHO findings, results, complications and the follow up data are presented and analysed. Results: Fifty three cases were included in this retrospective study from June 2002 to January 2011. The Median age at the time of operation was 3.5 years (range 1-26 years). The thirty days mortality was 7.5 % (four patients); one Fontan patient died because of arrhythmia & sepsis, the other Fontan one due to lately detected thrombosed Fontan connection. The 3rd patient was a case of Fallot tetralogy who died because of ventricular dysfunction and the 4th one was a repaired VSD died because of sepsis and DIC. Follow-up was available for 40 (75.4%) patients at a mean of 19.8 months (range 8-78 months) postoperatively. Conclusion: The Contegra xenograft is a good conduit for RVOT reconstruction, a potential acceptable alternative conduit for the extracardiac Fontan connections and can be used to close the VSD if it is associated with one of the previous 2 indications Keywords: Bovine jugular vein grafts, Contegra. Read more →