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@#Objective To discuss the feasibility of establishment of animal model of "functional" bicuspid aortic valve with swine and observe its effect on the wall shear stress inside the aorta. Methods Four common Shanghai White Swine with body weight between 50 kg to 55 kg were selected. Under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, the aortic transverse incision approach was used, continuous suture with 6-0 polypropylene to align the left and right coronary valve leaflets to create a bicuspid valve morphology. After the operation, echocardiography was used to observe the aortic valve morphology and the hemodynamic changes of the aortic valve orifice. The effect on the wall shear stress inside the aorta was studied with 4D-Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results A total of 4 swine "functional" bicuspid aortic valve models were established, with a success rate of 100.0%. Echocardiography showed that the blood flow velocity of the aortic valve orifice was faster than that before the operation (0.96 m/s vs. 1.80 m/s). 4D-Flow MRI showed abnormally increased wall shear stress and blood flow velocity in the aorta of the animal models. After the surgery, in model animals, the maximal wall shear stress inside the ascending aorta was greater than 1.36 Pa, and the maximum blood flow velocity was greater than 1.4 m/s. Conclusion Establishment of the animal model of "functional" bicuspid aortic valve in swine is feasible, scientific and reliable. It can be used in researches on evaluating the pathophysiological changes.
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Resumen La válvula aórtica bicúspide es la cardiopatía congénita más frecuente en la población general. Lejos de ser solo una malformación valvular inocua, supone una enfermedad compleja y heterogénea. A menudo es identificada como un hallazgo incidental en personas sanas, cursando de manera asintomática. Sin embargo, en un alto porcentaje de pacientes conduce a lo largo de su vida a complicaciones valvulares (estenosis, insuficiencia, endocarditis) o aórticas (dilatación o disección). Con frecuencia estas manifestaciones suceden a una edad temprana y causan una elevada morbimortalidad. A pesar de que en los últimos años se ha producido una intensa investigación en este campo, la fisiopatogenia de la enfermedad no es del todo conocida y muchas preguntas siguen abiertas. En este artículo se revisan de forma actualizada los aspectos clínicos y fisiopatológicos más novedosos y relevantes sobre esta cardiopatía congénita.
Abstract The most common congenital heart disease in the general population is the bicuspid aortic valve. Far from being just a harmless valve malformation, it is a complex and heterogeneous disease. It is often identified as an incidental finding in healthy people. However, in a high percentage of patients it leads throughout their life towards valvular (stenosis, insufficiency, endocarditis) or aortic (dilatation or dissection) complications. Frequently, manifestations occur at an early age, being responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Even though in recent years intense research has been carried out in this field, the pathophysiogenesis of the disease is not fully known and many questions remain open. In this article, we review the most innovative and relevant clinical and pathophysiological aspects of this congenital heart disease.