The use of a glutaraldehyde-preserved ovine pulmonary valve, as a pulmonary valve substitute in infants.

Reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract with a valved conduit is often necessary to repair some forms of congenital heart disease. We have used a 12- to 13-mm sized glutaraldehyde-preserved lamb's (ovine) valve for this purpose. The valves were harvested from the local abattoir, dissected, and stored in glutaraldehyde at 4 degrees C for 2 weeks before use. The valve was placed in four infants, two with truncus arteriosus, one with aortic valve atresia and ventricular septal defect, and one with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. In three patients, the valve had to be replaced in the second year of life, and in one patient in the fourth year of life. All patients are alive and well at follow-up. In the short-term, this valve has functioned well and could be considered where commercially available conduits or homografts are not routinely available.