Flow-Induced Damage to Blood Cells in Aortic Valve Stenosis

Valvular hemolysis and thrombosis are common complications associated with stenotic heart valves. This study aims to determine the extent to which hemodynamics induce such traumatic events. The viscous shear stress downstream of a severely calcified bioprosthetic valve was evaluated via in vitro 2D particle image velocimetry measurements. ... Calcification was present on all the leaflets with a very small tear, less than 0.5 mm, on one of the leaflets (Figs. 1a, 1b). The bioprosthesis was tested at room temperature in a custom-built pulse duplicator system (ViVitro Systems, Inc., Victoria, Canada). ...