Abstract
Recently, the neo-chordae technique (NCT) was proposed to stabilize the surgical correction of isolated aortic valve (AV) prolapse. Neo-chordae are inserted into the corrected leaflet to drive its closure by minimal tensions and prevent relapses. In a previous in vitro study we analysed the NCT effects on healthy aortic roots (ARs). Here we extend that analysis via finite element models (FEMs). After successfully replicating the experimental conditions for validation purposes, we modified our AR FEM, obtaining a continent AV with minor isolated prolapse, thus representing a realistic clinical scenario. We then simulated the NCT, and systematically assessed the acute effects of changing neo-chordae length, opening angle, asymmetry and insertion on the aorta. In the baseline configuration the NCT restored physiological AV dynamics and coaptation, without inducing abnormal leaflet stresses. This outcome was notably sensitive only to neo-chordae length, suggesting that the NCT is a potentially easy-to-standardize technique. However, this parameter is crucial: major shortenings (6 mm) prevent coaptation and increase leaflet stresses by 359 kPa, beyond the yield limit. Minor shortenings (2–4 mm) only induce a negligible stress increase and mild leaflet tethering, which however may hamper the long-term surgical outcome.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beller, C. J., M. R. Labrosse, M. J. Thubrikar, and F. Robicsek. Role of aortic root motion in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection. Circulation 109(6):763–769, 2004.
Billiar, K. L., and M. S. Sacks. Biaxial mechanical properties of the native and glutaraldehyde-treated aortic valve cusp: part II—a structural constitutive model. J. Biomech. Eng. 122(4):327–335, 2000.
Billiar, K. L., and M. S. Sacks. Biaxial mechanical properties of the natural and glutaraldehyde treated aortic valve cusp—part I: experimental results. J. Biomech. Eng. 122(1):23–30, 2000.
Carmody, C. J., G. Burriesci, I. C. Howard, and E. A. Patterson. An approach to the simulation of fluid–structure interaction in the aortic valve. J. Biomech. 39(1):158–169, 2006.
Conti, C. A., A. Della Corte, E. Votta, L. Del Viscovo, C. Bancone, L. S. De Santo, and A. Redaelli. Biomechanical implications of the congenital bicuspid aortic valve: a finite element study of aortic root function from in vivo data. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 140(4):890–896, 2010.
Conti, C. A., E. Votta, A. Della Corte, L. Del Viscovo, C. Bancone, M. Cotrufo, and A. Redaelli. Dynamic finite element analysis of the aortic root from MRI-derived parameters. Med. Eng. Phys. 32(2):212–221, 2010.
Fattouch, K., R. Sampognaro, G. Bianco, E. Navarra, M. Moscarelli, G. Speziale, and G. Ruvolo. Implantation of Gore-Tex chordae on aortic valve leaflet to treat prolapse using “the chordae technique”: surgical aspects and clinical results. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 85(6):2019–2024, 2008.
Gnyaneshwar, R., R. K. Kumar, and K. R. Balakrishnan. Dynamic analysis of the aortic valve using a finite element model. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 73(4):1122–1129, 2002.
Grande, K. J., R. P. Cochran, P. G. Reinhall, and K. S. Kunzelman. Stress variations in the human aortic root and valve: the role of anatomic asymmetry. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 26(4):534–545, 1998.
Grande, K. J., R. P. Cochran, P. G. Reinhall, and K. S. Kunzelman. Mechanisms of aortic valve incompetence: finite element modeling of aortic root dilatation. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 69(6):1851–1857, 2000.
Grande-Allen, K. J., R. P. Cochran, P. G. Reinhall, and K. S. Kunzelman. Re-creation of sinuses is important for sparing the aortic valve: a finite element study. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 119(4 Pt 1):753–763, 2000.
Grande-Allen, K. J., R. P. Cochran, P. G. Reinhall, and K. S. Kunzelman. Mechanisms of aortic valve incompetence: finite-element modeling of Marfan syndrome. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 122(5):946–954, 2001.
Gundiah, N., K. Kam, P. B. Matthews, J. Guccione, H. A. Dwyer, D. Saloner, T. A. M. Chuter, T. S. Guy, M. B. Ratcliffe, and E. E. Tseng. Asymmetric mechanical properties of porcine aortic sinuses. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 85:1631–1638, 2008.
Gundiah, N., P. B. Matthews, R. Karimi, A. Azadani, J. Guccione, T. S. Guy, D. Saloner, and E. E. Tseng. Significant material property differences between the porcine ascending aorta and aortic sinuses. J. Heart Valve Dis. 17(6):606–613, 2008.
Holzapfel, G. A., and R. W. Ogden. Modelling the layer-specific three-dimensional residual stresses in arteries, with an application to the human aorta. J. R. Soc. Interface 7:787–799, 2010.
Koch, T. M., B. D. Reddy, P. Zilla, and T. Franz. Aortic valve leaflet mechanical properties facilitate diastolic valve function. Comput. Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng. 13(2):225–234, 2010.
Kunzelman, K. S., K. J. Grande, T. E. David, R. P. Cochran, and E. D. Verrier. Aortic root and valve relationships. Impact on surgical repair. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 107(1):162–170, 1994.
Labrosse, M. R., M. Boodhwani, B. Sohmer, and C. J. Beller. Modeling leaflet correction techniques in aortic valve repair: a finite element study. J. Biomech. 44(12):2292–2298, 2011.
Labrosse, M. R., K. Lobo, and C. J. Beller. Structural analysis of the natural aortic valve in dynamics: from unpressurized to physiologically loaded. J. Biomech. 43(10):1916–1922, 2010.
Lansac, E., H. S. Lim, Y. Shomura, K. H. Lim, N. T. Rice, W. Goetz, C. Acar, and C. M. Duran. A four-dimensional study of the aortic root dynamics. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. 22(4):497–503, 2002.
May-Newman, K., and F. C. Yin. A constitutive law for mitral valve tissue. J. Biomech. Eng. 120(1):38–47, 1998.
Raghavan, M. L., M. W. Webster, and D. A. Vorp. Ex vivo biomechanical behavior of abdominal aortic aneurysm: assessment using a new mathematical model. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 24(5):573–582, 1996.
Sacks, M. S., W. D. Merryman, and D. E. Schmidt. On the biomechanics of heart valve function. J. Biomech. 42(12):1804–1824, 2009.
Sahasakul, Y., W. D. Edwards, J. M. Naessens, and A. J. Tajik. Age-related changes in aortic and mitral valve thickness: implications for two-dimensional echocardiography based on an autopsy study of 200 normal human hearts. Am. J. Cardiol. 62(7):424–430, 1988.
Shadden, S. C., M. Astorino, and J. F. Gerbeau. Computational analysis of an aortic valve jet with Lagrangian coherent structures. Chaos 20(1):017512, 2010.
Soncini, M., E. Votta, S. Zinicchino, V. Burrone, A. Mangini, M. Lemma, C. Antona, and A. Redaelli. Aortic root performance after valve sparing procedure: a comparative finite element analysis. Med. Eng. Phys. 31(2):234–243, 2009.
Stradins, P., R. Lacis, I. Ozolanta, B. Purina, V. Ose, L. Feldmane, and V. Kasyanov. Comparison of biomechanical and structural properties between human aortic and pulmonary valve. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. 26(3):634–639, 2004.
Thubrikar, M. J., P. Agali, and F. Robicsek. Wall stress as a possible mechanism for the development of transverse intimal tears in aortic dissections. J. Med. Eng. Technol. 23(4):127–134, 1999.
Vismara, R., C. Antona, A. Mangini, M. Cervo, M. Contino, E. Bosisio, A. Redaelli, and G. B. Fiore. In vitro study of aortic valves treated with neo-chordae grafts: hydrodynamics and tensile force measurements. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 39(3):1024–1031, 2011.
Votta, E., F. Maisano, S. F. Bolling, O. Alfieri, F. M. Montevecchi, and A. Redaelli. The Geoform disease-specific annuloplasty system: a finite element study. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 84(1):92–101, 2007.
Weinberg, E. J., and M. R. Kaazempur Mofrad. A multiscale computational comparison of the bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves in relation to calcific aortic stenosis. J. Biomech. 41:3482–3487, 2008.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the “Fondazione per la Ricerca in Cardiochirurgia ONLUS”, Milan, Italy, and was supported by Regione Lombardia and CILEA Consortium through the 2010 grant of the LISA Initiative (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Advanced Simulation) (http://lisa.cilea.it).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that no financial and personal relationships apply with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence this work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Associate Editor Peter E. McHugh oversaw the review of this article.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Votta, E., Paroni, L., Conti, C.A. et al. Aortic Valve Repair via Neo-Chordae Technique: Mechanistic Insight Through Numerical Modelling. Ann Biomed Eng 40, 1039–1051 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0497-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0497-9