Contegra®conduit: current outcomes and concerns

A variety of congenital cardiac anomalies with severe right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction or RVOT interruption require surgical reconstruction from the infundibulum up to the pulmonary artery bifurcation or even into the branches of the pulmonary arteries. Ideally, the conduit or valve required for such reconstruction has to be formed of autologous tissue that grows, resists infection, lasts for the life span of the patient and is readily available in all sizes. Such conduits, however, are not available and although several alternatives have been used, none of which are without potential drawbacks. Contegra valved bovine internal jugular vein conduit (Medtronic Inc., MN, USA) has recently emerged as a promising option for pediatric RVOT reconstruction and has been advocated for its 'off-the-shelf' availability in sizes ranging from 12 to 22 mm, surgical pliability and encouraging short- and mid-term success in experimental animal, as well as clinical studies. This review focuses on the current outcomes of Contegra conduit and highlights some of the major concerns related to the use of this conduit and strategies to tackle these concerns.