Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit Durability
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Durability of Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Conduits
IRAS ID
266852
Contact name
Phil Botha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
In several forms of congenital heart disease, surgical repair includes the implantation of a tube or conduit with an artificial valve between the right ventricle and the lung arteries. This forms part of approximately 7% of operations for congenital heart disease. As none of the presently available conduits will grow with a child, and all will eventually become narrowed or dysfunctional, this remains an Achilles' heel of congenital heart surgery. All children treated in this way, will require repeated surgeries over the course of their lives to replace outgrown or dysfunctional conduits. Several valved conduits are commercially available, and human donor valves are available from the NHS tissue authority for some, but these are always in short supply. There exist very few studies with head-to-head comparisons of the durability of these conduits, comparing the outcomes in conduits of different types and sizes.
Over the past 30 years, our institution has employed predominantly human donor valves, but have also developed a large experience with the use of conduits from cows (Contegra, Medtronic) and pigs (Hancock, Medtronic). With many of our patients now having had a long period of follow-up with these conduits, and many having been replaced, we feel it is important to study the comparative durability of these conduits. This information should help guide decision-making in respect to the most appropriate conduit for use in different conditions and at different ages, and possibly reduce the need for repeat surgeries in some patients. The data required for the study already exists within our institutional database, collected as part of our clinical practice and in keeping with the National Congenital Heart Disease Audit. The study would therefore not require the collection of additional patient data or any patient contact.
REC name
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REC reference
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