Journal of cardiac surgery
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Comparative Study
Kangaroo versus freestyle stentless bioprostheses in a juvenile sheep model: hemodynamic performance and calcification behavior.
Glutaraldehyde-preserved bioprosthetic heart valve substitutes have limited performance and longevity due to tissue degeneration and calcification. The Freestyle valve (Medtronic Heart Valves, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) combines zero fixation pressure and proportional, variant-amino oleic acid (AOA) as antidegeneration and antimineralization measures. The aim of this study was to compare the calcification behavior of glutaraldehyde-preserved kangaroo aortic valves with Freestyle stentless bioprostheses in a juvenile sheep model. ⋯ We conclude that glutaraldehyde-preserved kangaroo aortic valve leaflets are equal to AOA-treated Freestyle stentless valve leaflets with regard to calcification in juvenile sheep. Both bioprostheses are prone to aortic wall calcification. The low calcification features of the kangaroo aortic valve leaflets without antimineralization treatment may benefit the longevity of the valve.
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We present a technique for percutaneous femoral venous cannulation for initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass in the setting of previous femoral vessel exposure in which previous scarring prevents safe dilation of the subcutaneous tissues using standard techniques. The technique presented may be particularly helpful when redo sternotomy is deemed hazardous and cardiopulmonary bypass is judged mandatory prior to redo sternotomy. The patient presented in this paper had two previous cardiac operations with prior surgical exposure of femoral vessels in whom institution of cardiopulmonary bypass prior to sternotomy was of paramount importance due to a 7-cm ascending aortic aneurysm.