BACKGROUND A preclinical study was conducted for evaluating a valved conduit manufactured with a glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed bovine pericardium treated using an anticalcification protocol. METHODS Bovine pericardia were decellularized, fixed with GA in an organic solvent, and detoxified. We prepared a valved conduit using these bovine pericardia and a specially designed mold. The valved conduit...

AIMS Percutaneous implantation has already been used clinically and is a great option for treating young patients. The use of autologous tissue-engineered valved stents might solve the problem of degeneration and limited durability of biological heart valves. METHODS AND RESULTS Porcine pulmonary heart valves and small intestinal submucosa were obtained from a slaughterhouse. The intestinal s...

Computed tomography scans were performed before and after aortic valve resection with consecutive implantation of a valved stent in human hearts with highly calcified aortic valves in situ (n=2). This demonstrates that the valved stent shows better fitting in the annulus after removal of the native valve.

A glutaraldehyde preserved valved bovine jugular xenograft mounted in a nitinol 'Z' stent, expandable from 7 to 28 mm of internal diameter, was evaluated in vitro (column of water developing a pressure of 45 mmHg and a mock loop including a pulsatile pump) and in vivo in five adult pigs with intra-vascular ultrasound to measure the inferior vena cava diameter via a retroperitoneal access. Throu...

We report a case of aortic stenosis with porcelain aorta using an apicoaortic valved conduit after 'aortic no touch' off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Apicoaortic valved conduit is a good surgical option for this patient to avoid re-entry through the sternum, injury to patent graft and manipulation of the porcelain ascending aorta.

Artificial drainage devices (ADD) create an alternative pathway for aqueous drainage from the anterior chamber of an eye through a tube to the subconjunctival bleb connected to an equatorial plate under the conjunctiva. The ADDs, both valved and non-valved, are available for end stage or refractory glaucoma. Currently, some of these devices, particularly the Express shunt, are recommended for t...

PURPOSE To describe the histopathology of non-valved implant capsules in three cases of persistent postoperative hypotony after the restrictive tube ligature was released in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. OBSERVATIONS The macroscopic appearance of the capsules 3 and 4 months postoperatively was immature and loose. Microscopic examination disclosed extremely irregular thin tissu...

Background In patients with congenital heart defects, restoration of the connection between the right ventricle (RV) and the pulmonary artery (PA) by surgical or percutaneous valved conduit implantation is a common procedure. Flow characteristics in such conduits are complex, therefore the aim of this study was demonstrating the potential application of 4D MRI flow for the comprehensive assessm...

Experiments were carried out to investigate rat aortic allograft calcification using valved abdominal aortic allografts. Results indicated that this was a potentially useful model for investigating fresh allograft calcification, as well as mineralization of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked valved allografts. Valve cusp results, however, were not comparable to those noted in large animal or human stud...

BACKGROUND Because transcatheter implantation of pulmonary valve is indicated for limited-size dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract only as a balloon-expandable stent, we investigated the feasibility of a large-diameter self-expandable valved stent and the durability of the valve after >6 months. METHODS We made a nitinol-wire-based, self-expandable valved stent with leaflets made fr...