Category: General

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025 Feb 28. doi: 10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vivo study is to compare cartilage viability within diced cartilage grafts from the perspective of three wrapping biomaterials Group A acellular dermal matrix (FlexHD®), Group T bovine pericardium (Tutopatch®), and Group F allogeneic human fascia for a possible implementation in the clinical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vivo study was conducted on 5 SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency)/Gamma Mice with a duration of eight weeks. The cartilage within composite grafts were obtained from the remaining cartilage following secondary rhinoplasty performed on a single donor. Diced cartilage grafts were wrapped separately with acellular dermal matrix (ADM), bovine pericardium, and fascia to form three groups. A total of five mice were utilized in all three experimental groups, with a total of 15 experimental materials being examined. One composite graft from each group was implanted into the backs of the mice. The effects of the biomaterials on the viability and stability of the composite grafts were evaluated. Viability was evaluated through LIVE/DEAD cell analysis and histopathological examinations. Stability was assessed by comparing weight and volume changes of the grafts, measured using a precision balance and computed tomography, respectively.

RESULTS: A significant increase in weight was found in the fascia group after implantation (p < 0.05). In the ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T), no statistically significant weight change was observed (p > 0.05). A significant increase in volume was found in the ADM (Group A) group after implantation (p < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed the highest cartilage viability percentage in the fascia (Group F) and the lowest in the ADM (Group A). No significant difference was found in viability percentages between the groups. Histopathological examinations supported the flow cytometry findings.

CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that cartilage grafts wrapped in allogenic fascia (Group F) showed better viability and stability compared with ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T). This suggests that while fascia may remain the gold standard, alternative biomaterials also hold potential. Further experimental and clinical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to support these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:40021504 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7

JTCVS Open. 2024 Sep 17;22:395-404. doi: 10.1016/j.xjon.2024.09.008. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate the effect of free-edge length on valve performance in bicuspidization repair of congenitally diseased aortic valves.

METHODS: In addition to a constructed unicuspid aortic valve disease model, 3 representative groups-free-edge length to aortic diameter ratio 1.2, 1.57, and 1.8-were replicated in explanted porcine aortic roots (n = 3) by adjusting native free-edge length with bovine pericardium. Each group was run on a validated ex vivo univentricular system under physiological parameters for 20 cycles. All groups were tested within the same aortic root to minimize inter-root differences. Outcomes included transvalvular gradient, regurgitation fraction, and orifice area. Linear mixed effects model and pairwise comparisons were used to compare outcomes across groups.

RESULTS: The diseased control group had a mean transvalvular gradient of 28.3 ± 5.5 mm Hg, regurgitation fraction of 29.6% ± 8.0%, and orifice area of 1.03 ± 0.15 cm². In ex vivo analysis, all repair groups had improved regurgitation and transvalvular gradient compared with the diseased control group (P < .001). Free-edge length to aortic diameter of 1.8 had the highest amount of regurgitation among the repair groups (P < .001) and 1.57 the least (P < .001). Free-edge length to aortic diameter of 1.57 also exhibited the lowest mean gradient (P < .001) and the largest orifice area (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Free-edge length to aortic diameter ratio significantly impacts valve function in bicuspidization repair of congenitally diseased aortic valves. As the ratio departs from 1.57 in either direction, effective orifice area decreases and both transvalvular gradient and regurgitation fraction increase.

PMID:39780804 | PMC:PMC11704580 | DOI:10.1016/j.xjon.2024.09.008

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Jan;41(1):35-40. doi: 10.1007/s12055-024-01769-8. Epub 2024 Jul 1.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of Tissue Engineered Decellularized Bovine pericardium (Synkroscaff®) in congenital heart surgery as a prosthetic material.

METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective observational cohort study. SynkroScaff® was used as prosthetic material in cohort of successive patients under 18 years of age requiring cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases. Patients were evaluated for residual shunt, infective endocarditis, stenosis, calcification and aneurysmal dilatation at discharge, after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operatively.

RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were included, and the patch was used in ventricular septal defect (VSD), closure, aortic arch reconstructions and pulmonary arterioplasty (tetralogy of Fallot repair). Four (4.3%) had transient heart block, one had complete heart block needing a permanent pacemaker. A residual shunt was present in less than 5% of the VSD patients which spontaneously closed within 12 months. One patient of VSD repair had a significant residual shunt requiring redo surgery. The intra-operative ease of handling was rated as 9/9 in 92.3% of patients. None of the patients were noticed to develop patch leaks, aneurysmal dilatation or calcification on 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: This tissue engineered bovine pericardium is a safe and reliable prosthetic material for corrective congenital heart surgery in short-term period.

PMID:39679085 | PMC:PMC11638438 | DOI:10.1007/s12055-024-01769-8

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Jan;41(1):35-40. doi: 10.1007/s12055-024-01769-8. Epub 2024 Jul 1.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of Tissue Engineered Decellularized Bovine pericardium (Synkroscaff®) in congenital heart surgery as a prosthetic material.

METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective observational cohort study. SynkroScaff® was used as prosthetic material in cohort of successive patients under 18 years of age requiring cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases. Patients were evaluated for residual shunt, infective endocarditis, stenosis, calcification and aneurysmal dilatation at discharge, after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operatively.

RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were included, and the patch was used in ventricular septal defect (VSD), closure, aortic arch reconstructions and pulmonary arterioplasty (tetralogy of Fallot repair). Four (4.3%) had transient heart block, one had complete heart block needing a permanent pacemaker. A residual shunt was present in less than 5% of the VSD patients which spontaneously closed within 12 months. One patient of VSD repair had a significant residual shunt requiring redo surgery. The intra-operative ease of handling was rated as 9/9 in 92.3% of patients. None of the patients were noticed to develop patch leaks, aneurysmal dilatation or calcification on 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: This tissue engineered bovine pericardium is a safe and reliable prosthetic material for corrective congenital heart surgery in short-term period.

PMID:39679085 | PMC:PMC11638438 | DOI:10.1007/s12055-024-01769-8