Role of Right Atrial Appendage Tissue for Valve Reconstruction in Children.

Most pediatric patients with valve reconstruction require reoperation after discharge, primarily due to valve structural degeneration or infective endocarditis, which is caused by valve leaflet material problems. Previous studies generally believe that glutaraldehyde-solidified autologous pericardial tissue is superior to other biological tissues; however, it is regrettable that it lacks growth potential. It is urgent to develop new valve materials with certain growth potential, without anticoagulation and rejection. The right atrial appendage tissue is a native tissue and can be used immediately without any chemical fixation. This tissue is stretchable, elastic, and relatively thin. It has many benefits such as easy access, low price, safe and effective, short learning curve, strong reproducibility, no need for anticoagulation, no immunogenicity, and certain growth potential, which are worthy of promotion in many developing countries with limited medical resources. This review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanism, past and current status of right atrial appendage tissue for valve reconstruction in children, and prospects it, provides the evidence-based medical basis for the surgical treatment of valve diseases in children, and opens up another direction for the surgical repair of valve diseases in children.