Bovine pericardium for correction of congenital heart defects.

From July, 1980, until January, 1985, preserved bovine pericardium was utilized in the repair of a wide variety of congenital heart defects in 105 patients. Ages ranged from newborn to 56 years (mean, 9.6 years). Eighty-three of the 87 long-term survivors are in New York Heart Association Functional Class I or II. Bovine pericardium was not a contributing factor in the 12 hospital and 6 late deaths. The material was found to be flexible and easy to suture. No patient has demonstrated calcification of the patch in follow-up ranging from 6 to 60 months (mean, 30.2 months). Preserved bovine pericardium offers several potential advantages in the correction of congenital intracardiac defects.