title: A Swine model for long-term evaluation of prosthetic heart valves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to develop a porcine model of mitral valve replacement (MVR) for long-term evaluation of prosthetic heart valves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen 25-kg male Bama miniature pigs underwent MVR using St Jude Medical valve (21 mm). Each animal was allocated to an anticoagulation protocol after surgery (group I, s.c. heparin injection and warfarin (n = 8); group II, s.c. low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin (n = 8)) and was followed for up to 20 weeks. Terminal studies were carried out on all animals having survived for more than 140 days or died.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen animals survived for more than 1 month without signs of heart failure. One of group I animals died from haemorrhagic (haemopericardium) complications on the 9th postoperative day, and another animal of group I died on the 18th postoperative day because of valve thrombosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with other species, humans and pigs show remarkable anatomical and physiological similarities. This model is promising for long-term preclinical evaluation of prosthetic heart valves and evaluation of postoperative anticoagulant agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical Medicine School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin-Hui
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Haiwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Changtian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lidong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiaquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008943:Mitral Valve; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014859:Warfarin