Percutaneous transcatheter aortic disc valve prosthesis implantation: a feasibility study.

PURPOSE: Over the past 30 years there have been experimental efforts at catheter-based management of aortic valve regurgitation with the idea of extending treatment to nonsurgical candidates. A new catheter-based aortic valve design is described.

METHODS

The new catheter-delivered valve consists of a stent-based valve cage with locking mechanism and a prosthetic flexible tilting valve disc. The valve cage is delivered first followed by deployment and locking of the disc. In acute experiments, valve implantation was done in four dogs.

RESULTS

Valve implantation was successful in all four animals. The implanted valve functioned well for the duration of the experiments (up to 3 hr).

CONCLUSION

The study showed the implantation feasibility and short-term function of the tested catheter-based aortic disc valve. Further experimental studies are warranted.