Endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is a critical event for the embryonic morphogenesis of cardiac valves. Inducers of EMT during valvulogenesis include VEGF, TGF-β1, and wnt/β-catenin (where wnt refers to the wingless-type mammary tumor virus integration site family of proteins), that are regulated in a spatiotemporal manner. EMT has also been observed in diseased, strain-overloaded v...

Sixty percent of the patients going for valve replacement opt for mechanical valves and the remaining 40% choose bioprosthetics. Mechanical valves are known to have a higher risk of thrombosis; this risk further varies depending on the type of valve, its position, and certain individual factors. According to current guidelines, long-term anticoagulation is indicated in patients with metallic pr...

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of an adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve in experimental bronchopleural fistula during mechanical ventilation. METHODS We studied six mechanically ventilated pigs in a surgically created, reproducible model of bronchopleural fistula managed with mechanical ventilation and water-sealed thoracic drainage. An adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve was placed be...

S ymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) is a fatal disease unless treated by transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). During the latter half of the 20th century, aortic valve replacement (AVR) was accomplished in the operating room using a variety of replacement valves, both mechanical and bioprosthetic, the choice of which steadily evolved over time. Bioprostheses avoid the need for vitamin K ...

As a dreadful complication after the mechanical heart valve replacement, prosthetic valve obstruction caused by pannus formation occurs increasingly with time. The authors here present a case of 42-year-old woman who was urgently admitted to hospital with acute heart failure symptoms due to the mechanical mitral valve failure only 3 months after surgery. Transthoracic and transesophageal echoca...

While repair of the native valve tissue is recommended in nearly all cases, it is often avoided in lieu of simpler but less effective valve replacement, where native tissue is supplanted with a bioor mechanical prosthetic. This results in significant increases in patient morbidities [1]. There is a strong correlation between repair rate and surgeon experience, with more experienced surgeons sho...

Valvular heart disease is a pathologic process involving one or more of the four valves (aortic, pulmonary, mitral and tricuspid) of the heart typified by stenosis or regurgitation and leading to patient symptoms. The most common causes are tissue degeneration, rheumatic fever and congenital heart diseases. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) using either mechanical or bioprosthetic (tissue) valves ...

Gaasch WH, Lytle BW, Nishimura RA, O’Gara PT, O’Rourke RA, Otto CM, Shah PM, Shanewise JS. ACC/AHA 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease. Circulation 2006;114:84–231. 5. Bodnar E. The Medtronic Parallel (TM) valve and the lessons learned. J Heart Valve Dis 1996;5:572–573. 6. Van Nooten GJ, Van Belleghem Y, Caes F, François K, Van Overbeke H, Bové T, Taeymans...

BACKGROUND We have used the Starr-Edwards ball (S-E) valve since 1963, the St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve since 1978, and the ATS valve, since 1993 as the first choice of mechanical valve. In this study, the results with each valve during the 40 years were investigated in single mitral valve replacement (MVR) cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS The mean age for S-E valves was 32.8+/-11.1 years old (y.o...

SEE PAGE 2858 T he perfect heart valve substitute has not yet been developed and matching the patient to existing options to optimize survival and reduce valve-related complications remains challenging. The choices for aortic valve replacement (AVR) are mechanical valves, bioprosthetic valves, and biological valves such as aortic valve homograft and the Ross procedure (pulmonary autograft). The...