BACKGROUND The first generation of pericardial valves had a high rate of premature deterioration. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome after aortic valve replacement with second generation pericardial prostheses (Pericarbon and Carpentier-Edwards). METHODS AND RESULTS Between 1987 and 1994, 162 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with either a Pericarbon (n=81, 69+/-11 yea...

In recent decades, thromboembolic complications, ruptures, stenoses, and calcifications of the aortic heart valves cause morbidity and mortality of human patient. These complications need valvular replacement or correction with the natural valve, either mechanical or biological1. Implantation of the valve is necessary for the correction of the diseased human valve. These implanted valves may be...

Methods Based on a computed tomography angiography of the aorta, we made a delrin ring, keeping the anatomical characteristics of the aortic annulus. A matrix one following we made from stainless steel with the shape of the three cusp aortic valve, followed by preparation of the injection of liquid polyurethane segmented (SPU), using a esterolitografia technique. In vitro tests: The materials u...

During the past decades, the only effective treatment option for severe, symptomatic, aortic valve stenosis was surgical aortic valve replacement. More than 10 years ago, Alain Cribier performed the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Since 2007, CE-mark certified aortic valves are available for TAVI. This new technology rapidly achieved a very high clinical acceptance as a tr...

Trileaflet polymeric prosthetic aortic valves (AVs) produce hemodynamic characteristics akin to the natural AV and may be most suitable for applications such as transcatheter implantation and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. Their success has not yet been realized due to problems of calcification, durability, and thrombosis. We address the latter by comparing the platelet activatio...

BACKGROUND Tissue engineering represents a promising new method for treating heart valve diseases. The aim of this study was evaluate the importance of conditioning procedures of tissue engineered polyurethane heart valve prostheses by the comparison of static and dynamic cultivation methods. METHODS Human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and fibroblasts (FBs) were obtained from saphenous vei...

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to evaluate objectively the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients following heart valve replacement surgery. Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, its association with gastritis, peptic ulceration and upper GI bleed have been extensively studied. Anticoagulation of patients with mechanical heart va...