A Novel Quantitative Ex Vivo Model of Functional Mitral Regurgitation

Durability of mitral valve (MV) repair for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) remains suboptimal. We sought to create a highly reproducible, quantitative ex vivo model of FMR that functions as a platform to test novel repair techniques.

Fresh swine hearts (n = 10) were pressurized with air to a left ventricular pressure of 120 mmHg. The left atrium was excised and the altered geometry of FMR was created by radially dilating the annulus and displacing the papillary muscle tips apically and radially in a calibrated fashion. This was continued in a graduated fashion until coaptation was exhausted. Imaging of the MV was performed with a 3-dimensional (3D) structured-light scanner, which records 3D structure, texture, and color. The model was validated using transesophageal echocardiography in patients with normal MVs and severe FMR.

Compared to controls, the anteroposterior diameter in the FMR state increased 32% and the annular area increased 35% (P < 0.001). While the anterior annular circumference remained fixed, the posterior circumference increased by 20% (P = 0.026). The annulus became more planar and the tenting height increased 56% (9 to 14 mm, P < 0.001). The median coaptation depth significantly decreased (anterior leaflet: 5 vs 2 mm; posterior leaflet: 7 vs 3 mm, P < 0.001). The ex vivo normal and FMR models had similar characteristics as clinical controls and patients with severe FMR.

This novel quantitative ex vivo model provides a simple, reproducible, and inexpensive benchtop representation of FMR that mimics the systolic valvular changes of patients with FMR.