Comparative Analysis of Glutaraldehyde-Preserved Porcine Xenografts and Fresh or Glutaraldehyde-Treated Human Aortic Valves by Holographic Interferometry

Abstract

Although calcification and degeneration are recognized as the main causes of bioprosthetic heart valve failure, the reasons for such failure are not well understood. Hidden tissue anomalies in the valves may be the origin of later calcification. Application of hologram interferometry for non-destructive testing enables the detection of such tissue anomalies. A comparative study by holographic interferometry of ten porcine bioprosthetic valves (seven Carpentier-Edwards SAV. two Biolmplant and one Valcor) with five human aortic valves before and after glutaraldehyde treatment is presented. Whereas irregularities were detected in the interferograms of eight out of ten bioprostheses, no similar distorted fringe pattern was found in the holographic interferograms of human specimens. The present results suggest that tissue abnormalities exist in standard bioprosthetic valves which are absent in human ones. These irregularities may be the origin of later calcification and valvular dysfunction.