Use of the medtronic freestyle valve as a right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit

Background. We have used the Medtronic Freestyle bioprosthesis as a right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit recently in an attempt to overcome some of the problems associated with homografts and stented xenografts. The aim of this study was to review the performance of this prosthesis. Methods. Prospectively collected data for patients having Freestyle bioprostheses implanted as a right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit were reviewed to assess clinical outcome and echocardiographic results. Results. Thirteen patients aged 13 days to 22.5 years (median, 7.9 years) underwent either primary repair (n = 5) or change of conduit (n = 8) using the Freestyle bioprosthesis. One neonate with truncus arteriosus died postoperatively of pulmonary hypertension. One conduit was explanted 27 months after repair of neonatal truncus arteriosus. There has been no incidence of significant prosthetic regurgitation, thromboembolism, or endocarditis at mean follow-up of 10.1 months (range, 2 weeks to 29 months). Conclusions. The Medtronic Freestyle valve is a reliable pulmonary valve substitute in the short term. Early results justify continued clinical use of the device in this setting with close follow-up. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.