THE HANCOCK EXTERNAL VALVED CONDUIT - A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN LATE CLINICAL-RESULTS AND LATE CARDIAC-CATHETERIZATION FINDINGS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 86  (4) , 562-569
Abstract
The Hancock external valved conduit was inserted in 18 children between 1974 and 1977. Patients (17) survived operation and 15 are long-term survivors of 6 to 9 yr. All patients were closely followed up by the same pediatric cardiologist and each has undergone serial cardiac catheterization studies, generally performed at 1 and 6 yr after operation. All long-term surviving patients were in either New York Heart Association Class I or II. A few continue to take digoxin or diuretics. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated a gradient of 50 mm Hg or greater across the conduit in 2 of 16 patients 1 yr after operation and in 7 of 15 patients 6 yr after operation. Five patients (30% of all long-term survivors) have had this conduit replaced and each has survived reoperation. The finding of a severe conduit gradient in 1/3 of all long-term surviving patients is particularly bothersome since these patients were essentially asymptomatic. This study emphasizes the need for serial follow-up cardiac catheterization studies in all patients who receive the Hancock conduit.

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