Effects of structural configuration of prosthetic aortic valves upon coronary blood flow

This study was performed in order to determine the effects of the structural configuration of prosthetic aortic valves upon coronary blood flow. A pulse-duplicating system was utilized to which a rigid model of the root of the aorta and the left artery were attached. A stented normal human valve, stented porcine valve, pivoting disc valve, tilting disc value and a caged ball valve were tested at stimulated resting conditions. The results showed that the pulse configuration and proportions of coronary flow that were systolic and diastolic changed with various valves. There was no significant reduction of the mean simulated coronary flow with the porcine valve or disc valves. Coronary flow was augmented with the caged ball valve. These differences were interpreted as being due to several fluid dynamic phenomena. These were piston effects, inertia of reversed blood flow, torque and the effects resulting from the unique pressure distribution on each valve.