New study on decellularized aortic homografts for aortic valve and aorta ascendens replacement published

Researchers from Hannover Medical School/Germany and the University Hospital in Chisinau/Moldavia have published the early results of decellularized aortic homografts (DAH) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in February 2016 within the European Journal for Cardiothoracic Surgery. The authors report their experience in 69 young patients (mean age 19.7±14.6 years) up to 7.6 years postoperatively. DAH was found to provide excellent hemodynamics and the authors concluded that DAH constitute  a further option for AVR and aortic valve disease associated with aorta ascendens dilatation. 

The European ARISE project wants to broaden the experience with the technology of decellularizing donated human heart valves. A prospective multi-centre clinical study at 6 leading cardiothoracic surgery centres will be performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DAH for AVR. The clinical trial has already started in Hannover and 5 patients have been included to the study with further 4 DAH operations scheduled.