Experimental Study Of Autologous Pericardial Valve In Porcine Aorta For Research To Treat Aortic Valve Disease

Objective Summarized our experimental study of autologous pericardial valve implantation in porcine abdominal aorta,to better understand the behavior of it as a substitutive biomaterial to treat aortic valve disease.Methods Fresh and glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardiums were implanted into the porcine abdominal aortas as a single valve.We monitored the vital signs and physical parameters during the surgery and value the hemodynamic behavior of the graft by using CT Angiography and ultrasound after the surgery.The implants,recovered at 3 months and 6 months,were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically and by immunohistologic studies as well as ultrastructure studies and calcium measurement under electron microscope.Results Mean time of pericardium off body is 67±14min,of valve shaping is 24±7min,of aorta blockage is 31±6min,and the mortality is 6.25%.The thrombus was observed on the pericardial valve in one a week after the surgery in postmortem.After 3 and 6 months,none of the valves can be identified with only outlines by stitches.A single endothelium-like layer expressingⅧfactor related antigen appeared on the surface of the valve,and the collagen fibers connected well with host aorta especially in fresh ones, in which several integrity live cells can also be observed.The mean mass percentage of calcium in fresh pericardial valves after 3 months is 0.48±0.06,after 6 months is 0.52±0.13;while in the treated valves is 1.34±0.11 and 1.57±0.09.There's more calcification in treated valves,but no difference between 3 to 6 months in each kind of valves.Conclusion Pericardial valve implantation in porcine abdominal aorta is a reliable,feasible and safe way to the experimental study of pericardial substitutions for treating aortic valve diseases.We suggest that anticoagulation is necessary after the surgery and the methods of hemodynamic behavior evaluation need to be improved. Fresh pericardium has great biocompatibility and growth potential together with the host. The problem of degeneration and calcification within fresh pericardial valves may due to the damage caused by mechanical stress more than others,which should be proved in further studies.