Preliminary experience with GORE-TEX grafting for right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduits.

A consecutive series of 12 patients between the ages of 6 1/2 and 37 years underwent implantation of venous ventricle-pulmonary artery conduits. GORE-TEX material without prosthetic valves was used. Four patients had L-transposition of the great vessels with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary stenosis; four had tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia; and one had double outlet right ventricle, pulmonary stenosis, and a complete form of A-V canal. Two patients had D-transposition of the great arteries, VSD, and pulmonary stenosis; and one patient had L-transposition of the great arteries and isolated pulmonary stenosis. All patients had low pulmonary resistance and pressures. The technique for implanting this noncrimped type of prosthesis is described in detail. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 5 1/2 years. GORE-TEX offers a good choice of material for the construction of this type of conduit to prevent pseudointima formation and obstruction, which is often observed in woven Dacron grafts.