Animal model considerations to evaluate prosthetic tricuspid valve implants.

Aims: Determining tricuspid valve comparative anatomy and appropriate animal models for preclinical evaluation of prosthetic tricuspid valve implants.

Methods And Results: We described and measured 81 heart specimens: 12 humans, 22 dogs, 21 sheep and 26 pigs. Tricuspid annulus circumference varied in humans from 109 to 149 mm, in pigs from 85 to 140 mm, and were ≤125 mm in dogs and sheep.