title: Computed tomography detects tissue formation in a stented engineered heart valve.
abstract: Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHV) are being explored as an alternative to conventional heart valve prostheses. Using the classic tissue engineering paradigm, a stented tri-leaflet valve is fabricated. Subsequently, the construct is implanted into the pulmonary position in a sheep. Follow-up by means of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography was used to assess tissue formation. After 4 weeks, the scaffold of the TEHV has degraded and new tissue is formed. However, small areas without tissue formation were present at macroscopic inspection. This phenomenon was only visible on computed tomographic images. Therefore, computed tomography appears a promising technique for in vivo follow-up of tissue formation in tissue-engineered heart valves.
authors: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. l.m.deheer-2@umcutrecht.nl
authors: Linda M
authors: LM
authors: de Heer
authors: Ricardo P J
authors: RP
authors: Budde
authors: Evert-Jan P A
authors: EJ
authors: Vonken
authors: Frank P T
authors: FP
authors: Baaijens
authors: Paul F
authors: PF
authors: Gründeman
authors: Lex A
authors: LA
authors: van Herwerden
authors: Simon P
authors: SP
authors: Hoerstrup
authors: Jolanda
authors: J
authors: Kluin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*