title: Annuloplasty for valve repair with a new biodegradable ring: an experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The biodegradable ring was recently developed for mitral and tricuspid annuloplasty. The study aim was to assess the histological biocompatibility of the biodegradable ring and orifice area growth in a porcine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The smallest (size 16) biodegradable ring was implanted into the tricuspid annulus of 16 juvenile pigs. All animals were followed up by transthoracic echocardiography to evaluate tricuspid valve function. Animals were sacrificed at one, three, six, nine and 12 months after implantation. Macroscopic and histological analyses were performed on three sections per ring implantation site. Parameters from the study group were compared to those obtained from control animals that underwent cardiopulmonary bypass without ring implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examination showed that the biodegradable ring was gradually replaced by fibrous tissue, with complete hydrolytic degradation within six months. The thickness of the dense fibrous tissue reached that of the initial ring at 12 months. No fibrous tissue development was observed in control animals. Echocardiography showed no signs of tricuspid valve dysfunction, a preserved ventricular contractility, and physiological growth of the tricuspid valve orifice. Macroscopic measurement of the valve orifice area confirmed that the generated fibrous tissue allows for physiological growth of the native annulus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept of annulus remodeling using a biodegradable ring which preserves the growth potential of the native annulus opens new perspectives for valve repair procedures in the pediatric population. An undoubted contribution is also made to evolving annuloplasty technology.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Geneva, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Switzerland. afksendyios.kalangos@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Afksendiyos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalangos
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vala
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cikirikcioglu
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walpoth
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Orrit
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pomar
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mestres
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: Dhanjay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jhurry
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*