Transcatheter establishment of an animal model with acute aortic valve regurgitation：an experimental study / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of interventional transcatheter destruction of the aortic valve to establish an animal model with acute aortic valve regurgitation. Methods Eight healthy goats were used for this study. A limited sternotomy approach was used to access the apex of the heart. Puncturing of the apex of the heart was performed to establish a wire track, then, under fluoroscopic guidance a 10 F sheath was inserted along this track of hard wire until to the ascending aorta above the aortic valve. The internal sheath was removed. Via the 10 F sheath a 10 mm occluder of ventricular septal defect (VSD) was introduced into the ascending aorta above the aortic valve. The sheath was pulled back to the left ventricle, while the occluder remained in the ascending aorta above the aortic valve. Then the occluder was quickly pulled back into the left ventricle in order to make some certain damage to the aortic valve. And an acute aortic valve regurgitation model was thus established. Angiography of ascending aorta above the aortic Among the 8 animals, two died of acute left ventricular failure on the spot due to excessive regurgitation blood flow after the operation. Macroscopically, damage of the aortic valve was seen. In the six survivors, angiography of ascending aorta above the aortic valve and Doppler echocardiography showed that moderate degree of regurgitation was detected in 5 and small amount of regurgitation in one. Two experimental goats with moderate degree of regurgitation died of heart failure separately at seven days and fifteen days after the operation. The remaining four experimental goats survived for more than three months. Follow- up checkups with echocardiography suggested the presence of mild- moderate degree of regurgitation. Conclusion Acute aortic valve regurgitation model in experimental goats can be established through transapical transcatheter damage of aortic valve by quickly pulling back a VSD occluder which has been placed in the ascending aorta above the aortic valve. This method is clinically feasible, technically simple and repeatable, the result is reliable, and the degree of regurgitation is controllable.