Expanded PTFE membrane to prevent cardiac injury during resternotomy for congenital heart disease

Background. Resternotomy for repair of congenital cardiac defects can result in cardiac injury. Closure of the pericardium during the initial operation may prevent this, and several pericardial substitutes have been tried, with variable results, in patients in whom primary pericardial closure is not possible. We conducted a multicenter observational study of the use of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (Preclude Pericardial Membrane, formerly called the Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane; W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) in patients likely to undergo reoperation for treatment of congenital heart disease. Methods. Data were collected retrospectively on all patients in whom the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane was inserted at the initial operation for congenital heart disease at 12 centers in 1984 to 1993. Results. A total of 1,085 patients (mean age, 55 +/- 2.5 months) received the membrane. During follow-up ranging from 1.3 to 10.5 years, 105 reoperations were performed. Injury during resternotomy occurred in only I patient (1% of reoperations). There were no membrane-related deaths or complications in the entire series of 1,085 patients. Conclusions. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane was safe and effective in helping to prevent cardiac injury during resternotomy for treatment of congenital heart disease.