Downsized contegra graft as a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit in the setting of mediastinitis

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are commonly used for construction of the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit in the modified Norwood procedure. Dehiscence of a PTFE conduit in the setting of purulent mediastinitis presents a challenging clinical problem because of limited availability of appropriately sized replacement vascular homografts. The Contegra bovine jugular vein graft is an alternative to placing another PTFE graft in an infected space when a homograft of appropriate size is not available. We describe the use of a downsized Contegra conduit to replace an infected PTFE right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery graft in a neonate with life-threatening purulent mediastinitis.