The glutaraldehyde-treated porcine aortic valve. A study of the leaflets' mechanical properties

The modifications of mechanical properties produced in valvular tissue by glutaraldehyde fixation were studied. Porcine aortic leaflets, fresh and fixed with glutaraldehyde in a stressed state, were tested with a mechanical device. The results we obtained show that the fixed leaflets have a failure load higher than fresh ones and an increased elastic recovery. The time of preservation (up to one year) does not affect the mechanical properties of fixed samples. The temperature of shrinkage was also studied, and we found that fixed leaflets show no shrinkage at all.