Porcine and bovine aortic valve comparison for surgical optimization: A fluid-structure interaction modeling study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Medical Device Analysis

Background:

• Porcine aortic valve (PAV) and bovine aortic valve (BAV) are widely used in aortic valve replacement (AVR).
• Understanding their comparative hemodynamic and structural performance is crucial for optimizing AVR outcomes.
• Detailed analysis can guide the selection of appropriate valve type and size.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a detailed comparison of hemodynamic and structural stress/strain performances between PAV and BAV.
• To evaluate the influence of valve size on these performances.
• To provide data for optimizing AVR surgery outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Construction of eight fluid-structure interaction models for PAV and BAV across four sizes (19, 21, 23, 25 mm).
• Acquisition of data on blood flow velocity, systolic cross-valve pressure gradient (SCVPG), geometric orifice area (GOA), and flow shear stresses (FSS).
• Analysis of stress and strain behaviors within the valve leaflets.

Main Results:

• BAV exhibited superior hemodynamic performance over PAV, characterized by lower maximum flow velocity, pressure, and SCVPG, alongside a larger GOA and reduced FSS.
• Larger valve sizes (e.g., 25 mm) significantly improved hemodynamic parameters and GOA for both PAV and BAV compared to smaller sizes (e.g., 19 mm).
• BAV demonstrated lower stress on valve leaflets compared to PAV.

Conclusions:

• Bovine aortic valves offer better hemodynamic function and exhibit lower leaflet stress than porcine aortic valves.
• Further clinical studies are recommended to validate these computational findings in patient populations.