Reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract in tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary stenosis with a monocusp patch.

In order to reduce postoperative pulmonary insufficiency (PI) a transannular monocusp patch was implanted in 14 patients with severe tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic pulmonary valve ring (group A). The results of left and right heart catheterization, obtained within one year of the correction, were compared to those of 9 patients, who received a simple transannular pericardial patch (group B). The mean maximal systolic pressure ratio between the right and left ventricle (A = 0.43 +/- 0.03; B = 0.49 +/- 0.04), the mean maximal systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery (A = 10.38 +/- 0.52 mmHg; B = 12.2 +/- 2.5 mmHg), and the degree of PI (A = 24.7 +/- 3.4%; B = 22.0 +/- 3.0% of total stroke volume) were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) for the 2 groups. Although optimally implanted, the available monocusp patches cannot prevent or reduce postoperative pulmonary insufficiency in patients with severe tetralogy of Fallot. This experience suggests the need for a simple transannular pericardial patch if the pulmonary valve ring requires enlargement.