A NOVEL FLOW SYSTEM UTILIZING AN EXPLANTED PORCINE HEART TO DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF CAVAL VALVE IMPLANTATION

Abstract

Tricuspid regurgitation is one of the often neglected pathologies which can occur secondary to left sided heart disease. The current treatment methods are open surgical procedures which carry a high operative mortality. Therefore, TR is often left untreated in patients where the risks outweigh the benefits. To exacerbate this further, TR was found to be progressive and could potentially worsen significantly within 5 years. In this study, the efficacy of a new percutaneous transcatheter technique, known as Caval Valve Implantation (CAVI), was investigated; through the development of an in-vitro flow system which utilized an explanted porcine heart. From the results, the cardiac output was found to be 2.22 times greater after CAVI and the Jugular Venous Pressure waveform was restored. Moreover, 2D-pulse-wave-color Doppler echocardiography reflected a 2.42 fold decrease in the Effective-Regurgitant-Orifice-Area after CAVI. These results support the efficacy of CAVI and its potential to treat the symptoms of TR.