title: A novel porcine model for right ventricular dilatation by external suture plication of the pulmonary valve leaflets--practical and reproducible.
abstract: The right ventricle (RV) tolerates acute pulmonary valvular regurgitation fairly well, however, in the long-term dilatation and failure often ensues. There is little known of the structural and functional myocardial alterations following this pathophysiology, and therefore animal models are sought. We aimed to develop an animal experimental model for RV dilatation emphasizing feasibility, reproducibility and human compatibility. Free pulmonary valve insufficiency and RV dilatation were created with a novel external suture plication technique in nine 5 kg piglets. Six matched animals served as controls. After 10 weeks cardiac dimensions and physiology were assessed with in vivo cardiovascular MRI and conductance technique. RV end-diastolic volume increased 31% in the intervention group (P=0.03). The regurgitation fraction was 37% in the intervention group compared to -2% in controls (P<0.001). Conductance measurements showed preserved RV contractile function, but significant left ventricular diastolic impairment. This study is the first to show that pulmonary valve regurgitation, RV dilatation and functional impairment can be achieved by external leaflet plication. Compared to known methods, the advantages of this model are: 1) no induction of stenosis over time, 2) no risk of stent migration, and 3) very simple and reproducible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark. peter.agger@studmed.au.dk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agger
authors.forename: Janus Adler
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hyldebrandt
authors.forename: Eva Amalie
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hjortdal
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smerup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right