title: Anticalcification strategies to increase bioprosthetic valve durability.
abstract: In recent years, there has been a revival in the use of bioprosthetic valves as aortic substitutes. For example, during 2008 in Germany, among 12,397 patients who underwent isolated aortic valve procedures, 78% received a biological prosthesis and 21% a mechanical valve, while only 1% underwent valve repair. However, whilst this situation is the reverse of that during the 1990s, the question must be asked as to whether this is simply a fluctuating fashion, or a reflection of other factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy. gaetano.thiene@unipd.it
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiene
authors.forename: Marialuisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors