Mitral Valve Replacement with Porcine Bioprosthetic Valve in a Dog

Abstract

Mitral valve replacement (MVR) was successfully done in a model dog with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR), using our newly developed porcine bioprosthetic valve, which we cross-linked by both glutaraldehyde and polyepoxy compounds, making the most of the characteristics of each chemical. Seven years ago, the dog underwent a surgical operation to develop an MR condition experimentally. Under extracorporeal circulation through a cardiopulmonary bypass system, the valve was replaced after a left lateral thoracotomy via the fifth intercostal space, and an incision at the left atrium. Antithrombotic drugs were administrated only for a month after MVR. At the time of writing, 12 months after MVR, no regurgitation can be observed at the replaced valve on cardiosonographs, and the dog is clinically normal.