A one-way valved atrial septal patch: a new surgical technique and its clinical application.

Patients who undergo surgical repair of congenital heart defects, characterized by a hypoplastic right ventricle or high pulmonary vascular resistance, are at high risk for the development of postoperative right heart failure. This risk may discourage the surgical team from carrying out a biventricular or complete repair in such patients. To reduce the risk for right heart failure, we developed a one-way, valved, atrial septal patch to serve as an artificial one-way foramen ovale and tested it in an animal model.

A one-way, valved, atrial septal patch in the management of postoperative right heart failure. An animal study.

Patients who undergo surgical repair of congenital heart defects that are characterized by hypoplastic right ventricle or pulmonary hypertension are at high risk for the development of postoperative right heart failure. To minimize this risk, a new one-way, valved, atrial septal patch was developed that serves as an artificial one-way foramen ovale. The feasibility of this device was tested in five dogs in which reversible right heart failure had been induced.