Hemodynamic performance of an unstented xenograft mitral valve substitute.
OBJECTIVE
Stentless mitral xenografts offer potential clinical benefits because they mimic the normal bileaflet mitral valve. How best to implant them and their hemodynamic performance and durability, however, remain unknown.


METHODS
A stentless porcine mitral xenograft valve (Medtronic physiologic mitral valve) was implanted in 7 sheep with papillary muscle sewing tubes attached with transmural left ventricular sutures. Radiopaque markers were inserted on the leaflets, annular cuff, papillary tips, and left ventricle. After 10 +/- 5 days, the animals were studied with biplane videofluoroscopy to determine 3-dimensional marker coordinates at baseline and during dobutamine infusion. Transesophageal echocardiography assessed mitral regurgitation and valvular gradients. Mitral annular area was calculated from the annular markers. Physiologic mitral valve leaflet and annular dynamics were compared with 8 native sheep valves.


RESULTS
Average mitral regurgitation grade at baseline was 1.2 +/- 1.0 (range, 0-4), and the mean transvalvular pressure gradients were 3.6 +/- 1.3 and 6.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg during baseline and dobutamine infusion, respectively. Xenograft mitral annular area contraction throughout the cardiac cycle was reduced (6% +/- 6% vs 13% +/- 4% for physiologic mitral valve and control valve, respectively; P =.03). Physiologic mitral valve leaflet geometry during closure differed from the native valve, with the anterior leaflet being convex to the atrium and with little motion of the posterior leaflet. Three animals survived more than 3 months; good healing of the annular cuff and papillary muscle tubes was demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
This stentless xenograft mitral valve substitute had low gradients at baseline and during stress conditions early postoperatively, with mild mitral regurgitation. Preliminary analysis of healing characteristics appeared favorable at 3 months. Additional studies are needed to determine long-term xenograft mitral valve performance and resistance to calcification.
Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. 94305-5247, USA.
Tomasz A
TA
Timek
David T
DT
Lai
Frederick A
FA
Tibayan
Paul
P
Dagum
George T
GT
Daughters
David
D
Liang
Neil B
NB
Ingels
D Craig
DC
Miller
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007611:Aprotinin