Long-term results of the clinical use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute.

We report our long-term experience with the clinical use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute in 61 children with congenital heart disease. Twenty-three of these children underwent reoperation successfully, and advantages of the membrane in resternotomy and dissection of the pericardial space were recognized. We have so far experienced no major complications from the use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane. We conclude that the clinical use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute is valuable in children with congenital heart disease who are expected to undergo reoperation in the near future.