Staged repair of tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

Objective: To assess the results of a staged surgical approach for tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, hypoplastic or absent pulmonary arteries, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of these patients from a single institution.

Results: From July 1993 to April 2001, 46 consecutive patients with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries were treated with staged surgical repair.

Small intestine without mucosa as a growing vascular conduit: a porcine experimental study.

Objective: This study was conducted to check the feasibility of using small intestine without mucosa as a growing vascular conduit.

Method: Autologous proximal jejunum without mucosa after treatment with heparin bonding was used as a free inferior vena cava interpositional graft between the renal veins and bifurcation of inferior vena cava in 8 piglets. Intravenous ultrasonography was performed at 1 to 3 months after the operation and at autopsy.