[Experimental study of calcification of the xenopericardia]

We studied the calcification of four kinds of xenopericardium used in cardiac surgery. Group 1: bovine Pericardium (Tissueguard. Biovascular, inc), Group 2: bovine pericardium (No-React. Shelhigh, inc), Group 3: porcine pericardium (Rigg. Polystan, inc), Group 4: equine pericardium (Xenomedica. Baxter-Edwards, inc). Each pericardium was implanted in abdominal subcutaneous pouches of rats. The mean calcium content of each Group after eight weeks of subcutaneous implantation were 0.67 +/- 0.15 mg/g, 0.51 +/- 0.15 mg/g, 161 +/- 18 mg/g and 173 +/- 18 mg/g in Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4, respectively. There was no significant difference between Group 1 and 2, or between Group 3 and 4. On the other hand, there were significant differences between Group 1, 2 and Group 3, 4 (p < 0.001). The deposition of calcium and inflammatory changes were markedly observed microscopically in Group 3 and 4, but in Group 1 and 2, they were only slightly observed.

Two kinds of bovine pericardium are superior to both porcine and equine pericardium in the point of less calcium deposition and inflammatory cellular response after implantation.