ABSTRACT
The hemodynamics of stentless bioprostheses are superior to those of mechanical valves, especially for patients with a small aortic root. Between March 1999 and July 2001, we implanted 18 Freestyle stentless porcine valves using our technique of repeated division of the space by halving the distance. Seven patients received 19-21-mm valves and 11 received 23-25-mm valves. Clinical data and early and midterm outcomes of both groups were compared. The mean preoperative echocardiography gradient of the small valve group was 84.7 mm Hg, and when discharged from hospital, the mean gradient was 14.8 mm Hg. One operative death was encountered due to arrhythmia. This stentless porcine prosthesis has excellent hemodynamics and can be implanted safely and easily, even in elderly patients with a small aortic root, using our suture technique.
Subject(s)
Aortic Valve , Bioprosthesis , Heart Valve Diseases/surgery , Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/methods , Heart Valve Prosthesis , Aged , Body Weights and Measures , Female , Heart Valve Diseases/physiopathology , Hemodynamics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Suture Techniques , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: We studied the possibility that cryopreserved human heart cells could be transplanted with some advantage. METHOD: Cells derived human atrial tissues (control group (n = 13)), cryopreserved cells (cell-cryopreservation group (n = 23), and cells derived cryopreserved tissue (tissue-cryopreservation group (n = 29)) were cultured for 15 days. The cell proliferation was compared between control and cryopreservation group by growth curves. BasicFGF, TGFbeta-1, IL-6, IL-8, and cell cycle were measured at pre and post-cryopreservation. Mixed Lymphocyte-heart cell culture established by PBL and heart cells was evaluated by PBL proliferation. Transplanted cells were evaluated by visually and histology. RESULTS: Cryopreserved cells were proliferated much more than control cells (p < 0.0001). The growth factors were increased, and cytokines were decreased by cryopreservation (p < 0.05). The cryopreserved cell cycles were shifted to G2 + M from G1 + G0 period. Cryopreserved cells stimulated PBL less than non-cryopreserved cells (p < 0.0001). Transplanted cryopreserved cell were survived. CONCLUSION: Cryopreserved human heart cells can be transplanted, and proliferated much more than non-cryopreserved cells. Cryopreservation enables the human cells to be more prolific, and reduced the immunogenicity of them. The transplanted cryopreserved cells survived and formed cardiac-like tissue.
