title: Tensile strength of human pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have reconstructed aortic valves using autologous pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde since April 2007. However, the strength of the human pericardium has not been confirmed. We compared tensile strength between glutaraldehyde-treated human pericardium and aortic valve leaflets with various degrees of calcification to determine their suitability for use in aortic valve reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the ultimate tensile strength and elasticity of samples of glutaraldehyde-treated pericardia (n = 8), non-calcified (n = 12), calcified (n = 9) and decalcified (n = 21) aortic leaflets collected from 23 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery. Aortic valves were decalcified using a cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator. The pericardium was immersed in 0.6% buffered glutaraldehyde for 10 minutes and then rinsed three times for 6 minutes each in normal saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ultimate tensile strength of the glutaraldehyde-treated human pericardium, non-calcified, calcified and decalcified leaflets was 10, 2.8, 1.0 and 0.8 MPa, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultimate tensile strength of glutaraldehyde-treated human pericardium was 4 times higher than non-calcified leaflets, indicating its suitability for application to aortic valve reconstruction. Calcified leaflets were slightly stronger than decalcified leaflets. Thus, calcification can be removed without altering the tensile strength of valve materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawase
authors.forename: Yukinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umezu
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005404:Fixatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010496:Pericardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000637:transplantation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral