In vitro evaluation of a new aortic valved conduit.

Background: This study examined whether the presence of a sinus of Valsalva equivalent in the KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) improves valve hemodynamics, kinematics, and performance.

Methods: A 28-mm KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit was used to create an in vitro flow test model, and the same aortic valved conduit model without a sinus section was used as a control. Particle image velocimetry and hydrodynamic characterization experiments were conducted in the vicinity of the valves in a validated left-heart simulator at 3 cardiac output levels. In addition, leaflet kinematics of the valves were determined through en face high-speed imaging.

Results: The KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit model exhibited lower mean and peak transvalvular pressure gradients than the control model at all 3 cardiac outputs. In addition, its leaflets opened more fully than did those of the valved conduit without the sinuses, yielding greater effective and geometric orifice areas. It was found that the presence of the sinuses not only facilitated the development of larger and more stable vortices at the initial stages of the cardiac cycle but also helped to maintain these vortices during the late stages of the cardiac cycle, leading to smoother valve closure.

Conclusions: The KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit reproduces the bulged section of the aortic root corresponding to the sinuses of Valsalva. With this Valsalva-type conduit, larger orifice areas were observed, improving valve hemodynamics that may enhance performance.