The performance of current bioprosthesis designs has traditionally been evaluated on conventional parameters, such as transvalvular pressure drop, effective orifice area, paravalvular leakage, and Reynolds shear stress levels [1]. Although the well-established trileaflet design has been clinically proven to have long-term durability [2] and low levels of thromboembolism [3], recent studies have suggested that the implantation of an artificial valve at the mitral position significantly alters left ventricle flow field [4–6].
The well-established and clinically approved [7] trileaflet epic valve is employed in this study as a control in order to provide a standard at which the hemodynamic performance of the novel bileaflet bioprosthesis can be compared.
The GD valve is a novel bileaflet bioprosthesis (Fig. 1) fabricated from porcine pericardium fixed in 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution [8] overnight and subsequently stored in 0.2% glutaraldehyde solution...
