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Updated: Apr 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Development of a Minimally Invasive Large-Animal Model for Reliable and Reproducible Cardiovascular Research
Published on: October 20, 2023
A Surgical Method for Subvalvular Structure Intervention Through a Transaortic Approach in Normal Bama Pigs
Chengtai Ma1, Wei Wang2, Hao Jia3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Beijing Key Laboratory for Xenotransplantation, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
This study presents a novel surgical technique for aortic subvalvular intervention in pigs, crucial for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The transaortic approach offers a reproducible model for developing new cardiac surgical methods.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Animal Models
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Subvalvular abnormalities cause left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) alterations and myocardial hypertrophy, hallmarks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
- Developing effective surgical interventions for these conditions requires reliable animal models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a transaortic surgical method for aortic subvalvular structure intervention in a porcine model.
- To provide a reproducible and controllable surgical platform for studying subvalvular interventions and evaluating strategies.
Main Methods:
- A transaortic approach was employed in Bama pigs under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and hypothermic cardiac arrest.
- The procedure involved median sternotomy, aortic incision, and direct visualization for targeted subvalvular tissue remodeling.
- Key steps included anesthesia, catheterization, CPB establishment, cardiac arrest, subvalvular intervention, and closure.
Main Results:
- The surgical method was successfully validated in three pigs, with maintained hemodynamic stability and no intraoperative mortality.
- Post-surgery, cut surfaces were smooth, and surrounding structures remained intact, indicating procedural precision.
- The technique demonstrated high reproducibility and controllability, establishing a viable surgical model.
Conclusions:
- The developed transaortic surgical method provides a stable and controllable intervention model for studying aortic subvalvular structures.
- This model serves as a valuable platform for histological analysis, surgical validation, and the evaluation of intervention strategies for HCM and related conditions.
