Functional performance of a manually manufactured valve in a PTFE conduit in the supervision of the right ventricular outflow tract in patients with complex congenital heart disease

• Grant number: 25/02368-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Fernando Canêo
• Grantee: Giulianna Maria Casaburi Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto do Coração Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (INCOR). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Despite advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD), patients with complex heart defects often require multiple surgical interventions throughout their lives, and the choice of materials used in surgical corrections can significantly impact clinical outcomes. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) has emerged as a promising material due to its favorable biocompatibility, low thrombogenicity, and long-term durability, especially when combined with manually constructed valves created during surgery.Objective: To evaluate the functionality and longevity of the valve with three cusps manually made inside the PTFE conduit implanted between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk (RV-PT) during the intraoperative period of surgeries for complex congenital heart disease associated with obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract performed at InCor-HCFMUSP between 2020 and 2023Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including patients with right-sided CHD who underwent conduit implantation or replacement between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery using ePTFE conduits with manually crafted valves. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and echocardiographic data will be analyzed, focusing on the presence of valvular dysfunction (stenosis and/or regurgitation), as well as right ventricular function. The study will include patients aged 1 to 13 years who received individually tailored ePTFE valved conduits during the defined period at InCor-HCFMUSP.Expected results: We aim to assess the valve functionality within the ePTFE conduit, which may support this approach as a safe, accessible, and patient-specific alternative-particularly relevant in resource-limited settings-and guide more effective therapeutic strategies for this patient population. (AU)