Pulmonary position cryopreserved homografts: durability in pediatric Ross and non-Ross patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome and risk factors for implant failure in pediatric patients who underwent pulmonary position homograft placement for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction compared with conduit placement as a component of the Ross operation. Actuarial 5-year survivals for cryopreserved right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery homografts range from 55% to 94% at all ages. It is not known whether there is a difference in homograft durability when utilized for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction or as part of the Ross operation.

Systemic arterial collateral esophageal indentations in pseudotruncus arteriosus.

Barium esophagrams were obtained in two patients with respiratory problems whose underlying congenital heart disease was pseudotruncus arteriosus type I. The esophagrams revealed vascular indentations on the esophagus, one posteriorly, and the other anteriorly. Both types of indentations were secondary to aorto-pulmonary communicating arteries from the descending aorta.