Biomechanical and structural properties of the explanted bioprosthetic valve leaflets.

Porcine bioprosthesis were treated with 0.625% glutaraldehyde and stabilized under changing pressure from 4 to 30 mmHg. Bovine pericardium and 12 biovalves (of age between 14 days and 80 months) after implantation in the human body were investigated (7 porcine PB and 5 pericardial bioprosthesis--PCB). Circumferential and radial strips from porcine aortic valve leaflets, bovine pericardium and bioprosthetic leaflets were studied in light, transmitting and scanning electron microscopy. Uniaxial load tests were carried out to examine the deformability and strength of these tissues. Microscopic examination of the biovalves revealed that the PB and PCB tissue retained its original architecture, but with alterations in detailed structure. The collagen bundles stuck together with vacuolization between them. There were some areas of the collagen structure fragmentation which could lead to complete necrosis. Eighty months after implantation in patients, the PCB became more extensible and its ultimate strain increases 2.5 times. Ultimate stress decreases in the radial direction from 9.43 to 2.88 MPa, and in the circumferential direction from 9.43 to 6.44 MPa. Forty-eight months after implantation, PB tissue's ultimate stress decreases in the circumferential direction from 4.06 to 1.99 MPa. At the same time ultimate strain increases from 13 to 22%. This study is to improve the methods of tissue stabilization in 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution for the first 48 h at cyclic, changing construction of biovalves soft supporting stent after 48 h.