OBJECTIVES The present study investigates outcomes one month after implanting pigs with
a novel mitral valved stent. METHODS A novel nitinol stent custom designed for this study
included a bovine pericardial valve. Six pigs received a valved stent into the mitral position
by means of the transapical implantation technique. Afterwards, haemodynamic stability and
valve function were assessed, immediately after implantation (n= 6), 4 weeks (n= 4) and 8
weeks (n= 1) thereafter using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), ventriculography …

Objective: Percutaneous valve replacement was recently introduced, and reports of early
clinical experience have already been published. To date, this technique is limited to the
replacement of pulmonary and aortic valves in a strictly selected group of patients. The aim
of this study was to analyse a self-expanding valved stent for minimally invasive
replacement of the mitral valve in animals. Methods: A newly designed nitinol stent was
specially designed for this experimental acute study. It comprised of a left ventricular tubular …