Experimental evaluation of mechanical haemolysis with Starr-Edwards, Kay-Shiley and Björk-Shiley valves.
Mechanical cell damage was studied in vitro with three types of prostheses: Starr-Edwards, Kay-Shiley and Björk-Shiley valves. Mechanical cell damage was found to be closely related to the flow characteristics in the prosthesis. Considering valves of similar orifice diameter, Björk-Shiley valves produced the lowest rate of haemolysis. This is due to the improved haemodynamic characteristics of the valve which resulted from the laminar type of flow. With Starr-Edwards valves, smaller sizes produced unacceptably high rates of haemolysis. Increasing the mean forward flow across the valve resulted in a disproportionate rise in the energy loss and the rate of haemolysis when compared with Björk-Shiley valves of similar annulus diameters.
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006461:Hemolysis; D008954:Models, Biological