title: Stentless valves treated by the L-hydro process in the aortic position in sheep.
abstract: Calcification of glutaraldehyde-treated bioprosthetic heart valves is a major cause of long-term failure. We studied porcine aortic valves treated by the L-Hydro process and implanted into 14 juvenile sheep (group 1). Another 10 sheep were implanted with glutaraldehyde-treated porcine bioprostheses (group 2). The animals were sacrificed after 150 days and the explanted valves were analyzed for calcification. Hemodynamic measurements by echocardiography and angiography were carried out prior to sacrifice. Macroscopic analysis showed calcification and loss of mobility of the leaflets in all group 2 implants and in one group 1 implant. Light microscopy showed foci of calcification in all group 2 implants and in 3 valves from group 1. A significant reduction in the level of calcification was found in porcine bioprostheses treated by the L-Hydro process and implanted into the juvenile sheep model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil. paulocir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paulo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Luís R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Gerola
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: Enio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buffolo
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012756:Sheep; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral