title: A "semi-supported" porcine xenograft--description and first clinical use.
abstract: The anatomy of valsalva's sinus is such that it decreases the mechanical stress on the leaflets of the aortic valve. Artificial stents impair the hemodynamic performance of an aortic bioprosthesis and lead to unphysiological functional stresses and may also shorten their durability. Therefore a semi-supported xenograft was developed which can be attached with an one-suture row in subcoronary position. This facilitates surgery considerably. Moreover, the commissures can be attached directly to the patient's aortic wall. The semi-supported valve was successfully implanted in a 69 years old patient with a combined aortic valve lesion. Postoperative invasive investigations, including angiography and videodensitometry, showed a normal performance of the valve and a normal anatomy of the aortic root.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Kiel, FRG.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sievers
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kraatz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heintzen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design