Use of a Dilatable exGraft Conduit in Single-Ventricle Palliation

Abstract

Surgically paced prosthetic conduits are commonly used in the treatment of congenital heart disease. A major limitation of available prosthetic grafts is that they do not grow with the patient. We describe a human case of percutaneous balloon dilation of a surgically placed exGraft conduit (PECA Labs, Inc, Pittsburgh, PA) in a neonate with single-ventricle disease. The use of dilatable conduits could change the management of many congenital heart defects and greatly reduce both the morbidity of repeat cardiac reoperations and the deleterious effects of prolonged conduit dysfunction that accrue between surgical conduit revisions.