15-Year Outcomes of 12 mm Bovine Jugular Vein Conduits for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in Neonates

All articles of this category (opens in new window) Background: To evaluate long-term outcomes in neonates undergoing right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a 12 mm bovine jugular vein conduit. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all neonates receiving a 12 mm bovine jugular vein conduit for RVOT reconstruction from January 2005 and December 2020. Conduit failure was categorized as early (replacement ≤ 5 years postimplantation) or late (>5 years). Results: Forty-nine neonates with a median age of 16 days (IQR: 9–25 days) were included. Seven required reintervention within 5 years for nonconduit reasons (e.g., truncal valve repair, Yasui take-down) and were excluded. Early conduit failure occurred in only three patients (6%), driven by branch pulmonary artery stenosis or distal anastomotic issues. Median follow-up was 10.8 years (IQR: 8.1–14.5 years), with median freedom from conduit-related reoperation of 10.9 years (87% at 5 years, 61% at 10 years). One-year mortality was 12% (6/49), and overall 10-year survival was 86%. Furthermore, 35% (12/34) of conduits lasted longer than 10 years. The longest interval to replacement was 16 years. Conclusion: In neonates, the 12 mm bovine jugular vein conduit offers durable RVOT reconstruction, with low early failure and median freedom from reoperation exceeding 10 years. These outcomes compare favorably with other published series. Publication History Article published online: 17 February 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany