title: Experimental and clinical evaluation of formalin containing pericardial bioprostheses for replacement of infected valves.
abstract: In 1988 we quantified the adherence of two Staphylococcus epidermidis strains to glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium and teflon. The pericardium was used with and without prior rinsing to remove the preservative formaldehyde. Bacterial adherence was not detected on non-rinsed pericardium, and it was significantly less on rinsed pericardium than on teflon (p < 0.001). In view of these results, we have since then implanted 31 pericardial bioprostheses without rinsing them in 29 patients with active bacterial endocarditis. Valve infection reoccurred in two patients (6.7%) and two patients developed early periprosthetic leaks in the absence of re-infection. No adverse clinical or biochemical findings attributable to residual aldehydes have been observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Clinic, Hospital General de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Garcia-Bengoechea
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Juanatey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubio Alvarez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra Quiroga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duran Munoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beiras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D012086:Reoperation; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde