[Valve-fitted prosthetic tubes in the pulmonary outflow tract. Results of a series of 45 operations].

The malformations requiring valve fitted prosthetic tubes in the pulmonary outflow tract were mainly persistent truncus arteriosus and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in this series. The surgical mortality before 18 months was 75% and 19% after this age. The long-term clinical result (average follow up period: 2,5 years) was good or acceptable in 20 of the 32 survivors. There were 5 late deaths and 6 reoperations. The main causes of long-term failures were progressive pulmonary hypertension without shunt, acquired stenoses on the prosthesis and late infection. It is important to assess poor results by catheterisation as reoperation is frequently possible with a relatively low mortality rate (1/6) and encouraging results.