Computed tomography detects tissue formation in a stented engineered heart valve.

Authors :: de Heer LM
Budde RP
Vonken EJ
Baaijens FP
Gründeman PF
van Herwerden LA
Hoerstrup SP
Kluin J
Source :: The Annals of thoracic surgery [Ann Thorac Surg] 2011 Jul; Vol. 92 (1), pp. 344-5.
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHV) are being explored as an alternative to conventional heart valve prostheses. Using the classic tissue engineering paradigm, a stented tri-leaflet valve is fabricated. Subsequently, the construct is implanted into the pulmonary position in a sheep. Follow-up by means of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography was used to assess tissue formation. After 4 weeks, the scaffold of the TEHV has degraded and new tissue is formed. However, small areas without tissue formation were present at macroscopic inspection. This phenomenon was only visible on computed tomographic images. Therefore, computed tomography appears a promising technique for in vivo follow-up of tissue formation in tissue-engineered heart valves.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Subjects :: Animals
Diagnostic Imaging methods
Disease Models, Animal
Echocardiography, Doppler methods
Follow-Up Studies
Graft Survival
Heart Valve Prosthesis
Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods
Risk Assessment
Sheep
Time Factors
Pulmonary Valve diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Valve surgery
Stents
Tissue Engineering methods
Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods

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