Tissue engineering aims to overcome the current limitations of heart valves by providing a viable alternative using living tissue. Nevertheless, the valves constructed from either decellularized xenogeneic or purely biologic scaffolds are unable to withstand the hemodynamic loads, particularly in the left ventricle. To address this, we have been developing a hybrid tissue-engineered heart valve (H-TEHV) concept consisting of a nondegradable elastomeric scaffold enclosed in a valve-like living tissue constructed from autologous cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Aortic dissection is a relatively uncommon, but often catastrophic disease that requires early and accurate diagnosis. It often presents in patients with congenital connective tissue disorders. The current aortic surgical techniques are related with serious early and late complications.
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