Implantability of a novel, pre-assembled aortic valved conduit with RESILIA tissue

BACKGROUND: Currently, the only commercial pre-assembled aortic valved conduits employ mechanical valves, requiring lifelong anticoagulation. Tissue-valved conduits that require assembly on the operating table are less standardized, require extensive experience for satisfactory results, and are limited in their longevity. The KONECT RESILIA Aortic Valved Conduit is a new tissue valved conduit that consists of a Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna Ease aortic valve stent, the novel RESILIA tissue leaflets, and a new DualFit sewing ring pre-assembled to a Terumo GelWeave Valsalva Graft. RESILIA tissue is a bovine pericardial tissue that may offer superior anti-calcification properties compared to contemporary tissue valves; furthermore, it may be stored dry. METHODS: We tested the handling and implantability of this new aortic valved conduit in 8 human cadaver hearts, as well as the valve removal potential without detaching the coronary ostia. RESULTS: The KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit's handling and implantability was uniformly satisfactory. The valve inside the conduit could be easily surgically extracted, leaving the conduit and coronary ostia intact. CONCLUSIONS: We found this first evaluation of the KONECT RESILIA Aortic Valved Conduit to be that it handled well and was easily implantable and extractable in a human cadaver model.