Doppler evaluation of homograft valved conduits in children.

To assess the flow characteristics of homograft valved conduits in the immediate postoperative period, 69 children with 71 homograft conduits underwent 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination at 1 to 40 days (mean 8) after surgery. Of the 71 conduits studied, 19 were aortic and 52 were pulmonary homograft valved conduits. Two aortic homograft valved conduits were inserted in the aortic position, whereas all remaining homografts were placed in the pulmonary position. On the immediate postoperative echocardiogram, 25 (35%) of the conduit valves had no regurgitation and 44 (62%) had 1+ (mild) regurgitation. Two pulmonary valved conduits (3%) in the pulmonary position had 2+ (moderate) regurgitation and right ventricular dimensions greater than 95% for body surface area. The peak velocity across the homograft valve was normal (less than 1.3 m/s) in 58 valves (82%). In the remaining 13 valves, peak velocity ranged from 1.4 to 2.6 m/s. No homograft valve had a peak velocity greater than 2.6 m/s in the immediate postoperative period. To assess the fate of homograft valved conduits in the intermediate-term follow-up period, 38 children with 38 conduits had a repeat echocardiogram at 6 to 25 months (mean 15 +/- 6) after surgery. Of the 38 conduits examined, 10 (26%) had no regurgitation, 25 (66%) had 1+ regurgitation and 3 (8%) had 2+ regurgitation. Progression of the amount of regurgitation occurred in 11 (29%) patients. At the follow-up examination, peak velocity was less than or equal to 1.4 m/s across 34 conduit valves, between 1.4 and 2.6 m/s across 3 valves and greater than 2.6 m/s across 1 valve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)