Objectives: To evaluate a new sutureless bioprosthetic valve for aortic valve replacement.
Methods: The Perceval is a bioprosthetic aortic valve constructed from bovine pericardium, mounted in a Nitinol stent. This stent-mounted valve can be compressed and positioned on a transluminal valve delivery system. The valve can be delivered through the open aorta, after removal of the diseased valve. The valve was implanted in 27 patients needing aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant CABG. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained at discharge, at 6 months and at 1 year postoperatively.
Results: In all patients the surgical procedure went well. Mean duration of aortic cross clamping needed for the aortic valve replacement was 17min (range 14 – 33 min). All patients were discharged in good condition and all valves functioned well. At discharge, peak gradient was 29,0 ± 11,1 mmHg, mean gradient was 15 ± 6,9 mmHg and effective orifice area was 1,42 ± 0,37 cm2. The valves showed only minimal to mild valvular regurgitation, with minimal paravalvular leakage seen in 3 cases.
Conclusions: It is possible to implant a well functioning sutureless stent-mounted valve in aortic position with only 17 minutes of aortic cross-clamping, including complete removal of the diseased native valve.
Image
