Surgical technique: establishing a pre-clinical large animal model to test aortic valve leaflet substitute.
To overcome current limitations of valve substitutes and tissue substitutes the technology of tissue engineering (TE) continues to offer new perspectives in congenital cardiac surgery. We report our experiences and results implanting a decellularized TE patch in nine sheep in orthotropic position as aortic valve leaflet substitute. Establishing the animal model, feasibility, cardiopulmonary bypass issues and operative technique are highlighted.
Department of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Paediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Schweiger
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Paediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Walter
W
Knirsch
Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Niko
N
Cesarovic
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bernard
B
Krüger
Department of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Paediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Schmiady
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Frauenfelder
Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Laura
L
Frese
Department of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Paediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Hitendu
H
Dave
Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Simon Philipp
SP
Hoerstrup
Department of Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, Paediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael
M
Hübler
Tissue engineering; aortic valve; cardiac surgical procedures; models, animal