Short- and Medium-Term Surgical Outcomes of Tissue-Engineered Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Sheep.

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Tissue-engineered pulmonary valves (TEPVs) hold considerable potential for improving outcomes in valve replacement surgeries. We investigated the surgical outcomes of TEPVs replacement in sheep, specifically examining the effects of valve type (decellularized versus adipose-derived stem cell-seeded valve [ADSC]) and the animal's age at the surgery. The primary goals were to assess survival rates, postoperative complications, and the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on homeostasis. Methods Nineteen juvenile and adult sheep were randomly assigned to orthotopic pulmonary valve replacement using either decellularized (DECELL, n = 10) or ADSC-seeded valves (CELL, n = 9). Blood gas analysis was conducted intraoperatively and postoperatively to assess CPB-related metabolic changes. The follow-up period after surgery was 6 months. Key demographic and operative parameters were recorded, and early and late postoperative complications were monitored. Results No significant differences were observed in operative parameters or postoperative complications between the DECELL and CELL groups. Adult sheep exhibited longer anesthesia, CPB, and operative times due to tissue fragility but demonstrated better long-term survival than juveniles, who experienced more late-stage complications, including endocarditis. CPB exposure increased lactate and reduced hemoglobin levels, partic

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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