Porcine stentless bioprostheses: prevention of aortic wall calcification by dye-mediated photo-oxidation.
OBJECTIVE
Aortic wall calcification is problematic in stentless porcine valves. We evaluated the possible anticalcification effect of photo-oxidation on the aortic wall portion of porcine stentless bioprostheses. A comparison with glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue was made.


METHODS
Six Photofix and six Freestyle valves were implanted in juvenile sheep in pulmonary position. Valves were explanted after 3 or 6 months and examined macroscopically, by x-ray, light, and transmission electron microscopy. Calcium content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.


RESULTS
The aortic wall portion of all Photofix valves remained free from calcification, while the wall portion of glutaraldehyde-fixed valves calcified strongly, both after 3 and 6 months. Calcium content of the aortic wall portion was: 0.71 +/- 1.27 in the Photofix valves versus 10.78 +/- 77.22 in the Freestyle valves (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Photo-oxidation of a porcine stentless valve prevents calcification not only in the cusps but also in the aortic wall portion.
Meuris
Bart
B
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and Sulzer Carbomedics, Austin, Texas, USA.
Phillips
R
R
Moore
Mark A
MA
Flameng
Willem
W
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005404:Fixatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D023421:Models, Animal; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral