Annals of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery : official journal of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia
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Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2004
Case ReportsRepair of the aortico-left ventricular tunnel originating from the right aortic sinus with severe aortic valve regurgitation.
A 31-year-old adult with an aortico-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) arising from the right aortic sinus is reported. Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a ruptured sinus of Valsalva with severe aortic valve regurgitation which originated from the right coronary sinus entering the outlet portion of the left ventricular outflow tract. ⋯ At 10-month follow-up the patient is asymptomatic and receiving no oral medications except anticoagulants. We believe this to be the oldest case of ALVT managed with AVR.
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Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2004
A new model to test the calcification characteristics of bioprosthetic heart valves.
Tissue degeneration and calcification are the two chief obstacles to the successful application of bioprosthetic heart valves. To enable the study of the durability of bioprosthetic heart valves and the efficacy of anti-calcification treatment, it has become necessary to develop animal models. The aim of this study is to validate a new model for implantation in the pulmonary position. ⋯ This model is promising for preclinical evaluation of bioprosthetic heart valves. The degree of calcification is not significantly different between our experimental results after three months of implantation in sheep and clinical results after 10 years of implantation in elderly patients. However, the pattern of calcification is somewhat different between the two groups.