Computed Tomography Detects Tissue Formation in a Stented Engineered Heart Valve

作者：de Heer Linda M^*; Budde Ricardo P J; Vonken Evert Jan P A; Baaijens Frank P T; Gruendeman Paul F; van Herwerden Lex A; Hoerstrup Simon P; Kluin Jolanda

来源：Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2011, 92(1): 344-345.

DOI：10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.12.063

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.

• 出版日期2011-7