Abstract
A biological RV-PA extracardiac conduit was developed using a bovine jugular vein with a natural valve and was evaluated in the animal study. Bovine jugular vein had softness, pliability peculiar to venous tissue and had ideal form as a natural valve in hemodynamics. To maintain these physical properties and form the vein was cross-linked with a glycerol polyglycidyl ether polyepoxy compound (PC). The conduits were implanted into RV-PA position of six dogs. The main PA was ligated after implantation. Postoperative catheterization and X ray RV graphy were done at four hours and 20 days after implantation. RV-PA pressure gradients by catheterization were trivial and revealed that the conduits were patent without major kinking. There were no serious thrombi on the conduits but there were a small amount of thrombi in the pockets and on the anastomotic line of the fabric. These results indicated that the newly developed conduit has a special physical properties whith were not seen in any conduit used in clinic.
