Regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the significance of controlling its spread and also due to the knowledge of the type of demographic characteristics during the Covid outbreak… Read More
Category: General
Transseptal access through synthetic materials: An in vitro comparative study of radiofrequency and needle-based techniques
Heart Rhythm. 2025 Jul 24:S1547-5271(25)02710-9. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.029. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The transseptal approach for accessing left heart structures is commonly performed with metal needles and radiofrequency (RF) needles and wires, though how each device performs when crossing materials used in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery is unknown.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of commercially available transseptal devices in puncturing select materials relevant to CHD surgery.
METHODS: A custom-designed in vitro transseptal model was created. Transseptal devices included a metal needle, an RF needle, and an RF wire. Study materials included expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyester, and bovine pericardium; porcine atrial septum was the control material. The primary outcomes were (1) the number of 1-second RF pulses required to puncture for RF devices and (2) the peak force required to puncture for the metal needle.
RESULTS: Excluding ePTFE, RF-based devices punctured all materials at 5-10 g force with a single 1-second pulse. For ePTFE, the RF wire required a median of 4 seconds (range 2-6 seconds) of RF energy to puncture, whereas the RF needle failed entirely. The metal needle required higher forces across all materials, most drastically for polyester (median 277 g). The metal needle punctured ePTFE with reasonable force (median 68 g).
CONCLUSION: Commercially available RF transseptal platforms successfully puncture native septa, polyester, and bovine pericardium with short-duration RF energy delivered at low forces. Metal needles remain a cost-effective option when crossing native septum, ePTFE, and bovine pericardium. However, caution should be taken when puncturing polyester with the metal needle, given that substantially higher applied forces are required. The RF wire and metal needle are reasonable options for ePTFE puncture.
PMID:40714328 | DOI:10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.029
Esophageal reconstruction using a hypopharyngeal anastomosis – a single center experience with review of the literature
Lye ingestion or other esophageal trauma may require surgical reconstruction. The hypopharyngeal anastomosis during esophageal reconstruction is a technically demanding procedure with many nuances in approach… Read More.
Giant right atrial myxoma emerging from the suprahepatic inferior vena cava, extending to the right atrium; a case report and literature review
Atrial myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors. In 20% of cases, they arise from the right atrium. Only a few such tumors are reported to have arisen from the inferior vena cava. We present the case… Read More
Esophageal reconstruction using a hypopharyngeal anastomosis – a single center experience with review of the literature
Lye ingestion or other esophageal trauma may require surgical reconstruction. The hypopharyngeal anastomosis during esophageal reconstruction is a technically demanding procedure with many nuances in approach… Read More.
Combinatorial Glyoxal Cross-Linking and Glutamic Acid Capping for Mitigating Calcification in Bovine Pericardium
Chem Asian J. 2025 Jul 21:e00652. doi: 10.1002/asia.202500652. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) offer advantages over mechanical valves but are limited by long-term degeneration and calcification. This study aimed to develop a durable BHV material using decellularized bovine pericardium (BP) and alternative cross-linking strategies. BP was decellularized using a combination of sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and Triton X-100 (TX), which removed cellular components while preserving the extracellular matrix (ECM), as confirmed by histological, DNA quantification, and biochemical analyses. The impact of glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, tannic acid, and catechin cross-linking on calcification propensity and mechanical properties was evaluated. Glyoxal-cross-linked BP, further capped with 1% l-glutamic acid, demonstrated superior resistance to calcification while maintaining mechanical properties comparable to standard glutaraldehyde treatment. These results suggest that SDC-TX decellularized, glyoxal-cross-linked BP with l-glutamic acid capping presents a promising strategy for enhancing BHV durability and biocompatibility, offering a potential alternative to conventional glutaraldehyde.
PMID:40686436 | DOI:10.1002/asia.202500652
Machine learning in predicting preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump use in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting
Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) implantation in the perioperative period of cardiac surgery is an auxiliary treatment for cardiogenic shock. However, there is a lack of effective prediction models for preoper… Read More
Does Valve-Sparing Repair Improve Outcomes in Tetralogy of Fallot? A Systematic Review
The systematic review determines whether valve-sparing surgeries improve patient outcomes compared with non valve-sparing surgeries for tetralogy of Fallot. Although previous studies have reported superior out… Read More
Combinatorial Glyoxal Cross-Linking and Glutamic Acid Capping for Mitigating Calcification in Bovine Pericardium
Chem Asian J. 2025 Jul 21:e00652. doi: 10.1002/asia.202500652. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) offer advantages over mechanical valves but are limited by long-term degeneration and calcification. This study aimed to develop a durable BHV material using decellularized bovine pericardium (BP) and alternative cross-linking strategies. BP was decellularized using a combination of sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and Triton X-100 (TX), which removed cellular components while preserving the extracellular matrix (ECM), as confirmed by histological, DNA quantification, and biochemical analyses. The impact of glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, tannic acid, and catechin cross-linking on calcification propensity and mechanical properties was evaluated. Glyoxal-cross-linked BP, further capped with 1% l-glutamic acid, demonstrated superior resistance to calcification while maintaining mechanical properties comparable to standard glutaraldehyde treatment. These results suggest that SDC-TX decellularized, glyoxal-cross-linked BP with l-glutamic acid capping presents a promising strategy for enhancing BHV durability and biocompatibility, offering a potential alternative to conventional glutaraldehyde.
PMID:40686436 | DOI:10.1002/asia.202500652
In vitro model assesses the susceptibility of polymeric scaffolds for material-driven heart valve regeneration to calcification
In Vitro Model. 2025 Jul 15;4(2):157-175. doi: 10.1007/s44164-025-00090-x. eCollection 2025 Aug.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Material driven in situ heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE) prospects an alternative to non-living replacements. HVTE exploits bioresorbable (synthetic) scaffolds that guide neo-tissue formation. Proper scaffold design assesses and mitigates potential material-related risks, such as calcific nodule formation. Herein, we establish an in vitro model to investigate the calcification risk of materials for HVTE.
METHODS: Calcification was studied by culturing 3D scaffolds with porcine valvular interstitial cells in a phosphate-enhanced calcification medium (CM) for 3 weeks. The model was applied by testing three electrospun polymeric Tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds (PCL, PCL-BU, and PC-BU) against a bovine pericardial patch control. Additionally, the model included a 10% cyclic strain environment to evaluate hemodynamic effects.
RESULTS: TE constructs showed significantly less calcification compared to the pericardial tissue control, mirroring in vivo animal model findings. No differences in calcification were observed among the TE constructs, and cyclic strain did not affect calcification.
CONCLUSION: The 3D in vitro model established in this study effectively mimics calcification in TE material constructs, aiding in systematic testing and comparison of cardiovascular TE materials. It can help understand calcification principles and evaluate potential risk factors (e.g., strain). As such, the model will support the design of biomaterials for in situ HVTE in particular and implantable polymer grafts in general.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44164-025-00090-x.
PMID:40708815 | PMC:PMC12283539 | DOI:10.1007/s44164-025-00090-x