[Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in sheep: 6-month evaluation of self-expanding valved stents].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in sheep up to 6 months post procedure.


METHODS
Fresh sheep pericardium treated with a 0.6% glutaraldehyde solution for 36 hours was sutured to a valvular ring and then fixed onto a newly designed nitinol self-expandable stent. Thoracotomy was performed in sheep (23.5 +/- 3.1) kg under general anesthesia and the device was delivered into the native pulmonary valve of the sheep via the anterior wall of right ventricle by catheter and fooled for 6 months.


RESULTS
One sheep died 4 months after the procedure due to in-stent thrombosis. Another 4 animals survived the 6-month observing period. Angiographic and hemodynamic measurements confirmed good positioning and function of the stents with a competent valve immediately post procedure and 6 months post the procedure in surviving animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Implantation of the nitinol self-expandable stent in the pulmonary valve position by a transcatheter approach is feasible and good function of transcatheter implanted memory nitinol valved stents was shown after 6 months of implantation in sheep.
Zong
Gang-jun
GJ
Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Bai
Yuan
Y
Qin
Yong-wen
YW
Jiang
Hai-bin
HB
Zhang
Hao
H
Yao
Ying-long
YL
Zou
Yi-qing
YQ
Zhao
Xian-xian
XX
Wu
Hong
H
Huang
Xin-miao
XM
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents