Objective To study the inflammation response and the biocompatibil ity of valved bovine jugular vein conduit (BJVC) and valved bovine jugular vein patch (VBJV-P) in treating complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods From December 2007 to March 2008, 16 patients with complex CHD were treated. Of 16 patients, 6 underwent conjunction right ventricular to pulmonary artery with BJVC and broaden right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) with VBJV-P (BJVC group), and 10 underwent broaden RVOT with self pericardial patch (control group). In BJVC group, there were 3 males and 3 females, aging (5.6 ± 3.6) years, and including 1 case of type I truncus arteriosus, 1 case of type I truncus arteriosus with ventricular septal defect and patent foramen ovale, 1 case of congenital pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and patent arterial duct, and 3 cases of Fallot’s tetrad. In control group, there were 5 males and 5 females, aging(4.3 ± 3.1) years, all being Fallot’s tetrad. The periphery vein blood of the two groups was collected during operation and after operation, and the levels of cytokine were detected with ELISA method. Meanwhile the cl inical data of the two groups were collected. Results There were no significant differences at levels of TNF-α and IL-6 between BJVC group and control group 1 week after operation (P gt; 0.05), and there was significant difference at level of IL-10 [(25.7 ± 5.0) pg/mL vs (19.5 ± 4.7) pg/ mL, P lt; 0.05]. There were no significant differences at levels of IL-6 and IL-10 within groups both in control group and in BJVC group (P gt; 0.05) between 1 week after operation and the anesthesia inducing period. And there was significant difference at level of TNF-α in BJVC group [(77.0 ± 1.6) pg/mL vs (82.9 ± 1.3) pg/mL, P lt; 0.05] and in control group [(78.6 ± 3.4) pg/mL vs (83.1 ± 1.9) pg/mL, P lt; 0.05] between 1 week after operation and the anesthesia inducing period. There were no statistically significant differences (P gt; 0.05) in leukocyte count and body temperature between BJVC group and control group. The X-ray films showed no abnormal ity in BJVC group and control group before operation and after operation. No hepatic and renal dysfunction occurred in control group; and 2 patients had hepatic dysfunction, which may be caused by antibiotics. Conclusion BJVC has a good biocompatibil ity in treating complexty CHD.
