title: Does the type of suture technique affect the fluid-dynamic performance of bioprostheses implanted in small aortic roots? Results from an in vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The in vivo hemodynamic performance of a bioprosthesis implanted in an aortic position is affected by the characteristics of the prosthesis and the sizing strategy adopted. Recently, it has been hypothesized that the type of suture used to implant the prosthesis might influence hemodynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bioprostheses with labeled sizes of 19 mm and 21 mm were implanted in 2 groups of 5 porcine aortic roots, with native annuli of 19 mm and 21 mm, by means of 2 different suture techniques: simple interrupted and noneverting mattress with pledgets. The aortic roots were tested in an in vitro mock loop. The stroke volume imposed by the mock loop was set at 40 mL, and was increased by steps of 15 mL until a stroke volume of 100 mL was attained. Main fluid-dynamic parameters were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At each level of stroke volume, ie, 40 mL, 55 mL, 70 mL, 85 mL, and 100 mL, the mean and peak pressure drops were significantly greater with the noneverting mattress suture with pledgets than with the simple interrupted suture. The effective orifice area behaved accordingly, being significantly smaller in the former case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that the type of suture technique can influence bioprosthesis performance and that it is reasonable to assume that this is especially true in small annuli (≤ 21 mm). Thus, to optimize prosthesis performance and reduce the incidence of patient-prosthesis mismatch, the role of the suture technique should not be disregarded.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular Department, A. Manzoni Hospital, Lecco, Italy; Department of Electronic Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: giordano.tasca67@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; ForCardio.lab, Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; ForCardio.lab, Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco Beniamino
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: ForCardio.lab, Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS, Milan, Italy; Cardiovascular Surgery Department, L. Sacco Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; ForCardio.lab, Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Redaelli
authors.affiliation: ForCardio.lab, Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS, Milan, Italy; Cardiovascular Surgery Department, L. Sacco Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antona
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular Department, A. Manzoni Hospital, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Amando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D023421:Models, Animal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D013552:Swine