title: Hydrodynamic performance of a prototype bioprosthetic valve derived from the pulmonary valve of Phoca groenlandica.
abstract: Biological valves offer significant advantages over mechanical valves, and for this reason, we studied the possibility of using a new animal source such as that of Phoca groenlandica. Four aortic and four pulmonary leaflets were cut radially and their uniaxial tensile testing was evaluated. Three prototype pulmonary valves of Phoca groenlandica preserved in buffered glutaraldehyde solution 0.625% at pH 7.4 were mounted on a 19, 21, and 27 mm novel support system (stent) with heart shape commissural posts covered with polytetrafluoroethylene. The valves were tested in a steady flow system, the peak pressure gradients (PPGs) were measured, and the effective orifice areas (EOAs) were calculated for the flows of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 L/min. There were five different measurements for each flow variant. Aortic and pulmonary leaflets present no statistically significant difference in failure strength (p = 0.93). The PPGs across the valves for the flow of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 L/min for all three tested valves were low and the corresponding calculated EOAs were large. The new bioprosthetic valve derived from the pulmonary valve of Phoca groenlandica mounted on this novel support system presented a satisfactory hydrodynamic performance in a steady flow system. More research is needed before it can be considered suitable for human cardiac valve replacement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Athens Medical-Psychico Clinic, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E Andreas
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Agathos
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Styrc
authors.forename: Stamatina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulou
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lachanas
authors.forename: Perikles
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005404:Fixatives; D011108:Polymers; D014025:Titanium; D005976:Glutaral