Influence of Tissue Technology on Pannus Formation on Bioprosthetic Heart Valves.

Purpose: Bioprosthetic heart valves have several modes of failure. Tissue degeneration and calcification are the major modes of failure with the highest focus of attention, however pannus formation can also be problematic. We studied the effect of a new tissue technology with the absence of any glutaraldehyde-based storage solution and a stable aldehyde capping process on pannus formation.

Aldehyde reduction in a novel pericardial tissue reduces calcification using rabbit intramuscular model.

Calcification is a major factor that limits the durability of bioprosthetic valve. A novel bovine pericardial tissue treated with aldehyde capping chemistry and glycerolization was evaluated for its resistance to calcification in comparison with porcine tissues treated with amino oleic acid and bovine pericardial tissue with ethanol rinsing in a rabbit intramuscular model. Tissue discs from the test and control tissues were implanted in rabbits for 60 days.

Advanced Integrity Preservation Technology Reduces Bioprosthesis Calcification While Preserving Performance and Safety.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is the leading failure mode of bioprosthetic heart valves. The Edwards Integrity-Preservation (EIP™) technology was developed to permanently block tissue calcium-binding sites and allow for non-aqueous valve storage. The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of tissue anti-calcification, valve performance, durability, and safety.

Assessing anticalcification treatments in bioprosthetic tissue by using the New Zealand rabbit intramuscular model.

The objective of this work was to demonstrate that the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit intramuscular model can be used for detecting calcification in bioprosthetic tissue and to compare the calcification in the rabbit to that of native human valves. The rabbit model was compared with the commonly used Sprague-Dawley rat subcutaneous model. Eighteen rabbits and 18 rats were used to assess calcification in bioprosthetic tissue over time (7, 14, 30, and 90 d).

Loose Body in Elbow of a Baseball Player: Arthroscopic/Radiologic Correlation.

We present the case of a 21 year old male college varsity baseball player who presented with sudden non-traumatic right elbow pain and limited range of motion. Plain radiographs suggested a calcified intra-articular body. Magnetic Resonance (MR) was performed to better characterize the location, consistency and mobility of this body.