(OP 177) Living Biological Annuloplasty Rings with Potential to Growth for Reconstructive Mitral Valve Surgery

• Published in: Tissue engineering. Part A 2008-05, Vol.14 (5), p.752-752
• Main Authors: Minol, J-P, Suprunov, M, Baraki, H, Akhyari, P, Bagaev, E, Brandes, G, Bara, C, Haverich, A, Hilfiker, A, Lichtenberg, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1937-3341; 1937-335X

Introduction: Growing materials for reconstruction of cardiac structures are of big advantage for pediatric surgery. In the present study, we investigated the integrative capacity of viable and non-viable allo- and xenogeneic tracheal cartilage rings, (allo-/xeno-vTCR; allo-/xeno-nTCR), respectively, implanted for mitral valve (MV) annuloplasty. Methods: Ovine and porcine native vTCRs and deep-frozen nTCRs were implanted in MV position for 3 and 9 months (n = 3, each) in juvenile sheep. The size of each implanted TCR was adapted to the MV size. MV function and TCR position were analyzed by echocardiography. The TCR viability was analyzed by LIVE/DEAD assay. The TCR integration was evaluated by mac-roscopy, ring planimetry, H&E-, Movat-pentachrome-, von Kossa-stainings, SEM. Results: No echocardiographic differences were detected after implantation. Before explantation in the xeno-vTCR and the xeno-and the allo-nTCR groups a significant TCR-shrinkage with development of MV stenoses were observed, whereas the size of all allo-vTCRs was distinctly increased that paralleled the somatic growth of the animals. No MV insufficiency was observed in all groups. The laboratory analyses showed the superior integration of allo-vTCRs with significantly lower rate of ring dehiscence, inflammation and calcification as compared to others. Consistently, viable cartilage cells were found only in allo-vTCRs and also a complete endothelialization was observed in this group only. Conclusion: Since allo-vTCRs implanted in MV position show excellent intracardiac tissue integration paralleled with ring size increase according to the somatic growth, native viable TCR may represent a well suited living material for reconstructive cardiac surgery especially for pediatric patients.