Scientific article
English

Postmortem circulation: a new model for testing endovascular devices and training clinicians in their use

Published inClinical Anatomy, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 556-562
Publication date2014
Abstract

The development of new medical devices, such as aortic valves, requires numerous preliminary studies on animals and training of personnel on cadavers before the devices can be used in patients. Postmortem circulation, a technique used for postmortem angiography, allows the vascular system to be reperfused in a way similar to that in living persons. This technique is used for postmortem investigations to visualize the human vascular system and to make vascular diagnoses. Specific material for reperfusing a human body was developed recently. Our aim was to investigate whether postmortem circulation that imitates in vivo conditions allows for the testing of medical materials on cadavers. We did this by delivering an aortic valve using minimally invasive methods. Postmortem circulation was established in eight corpses to recreate an environment as close as possible to in vivo conditions. Mobile fluoroscopy and a percutaneous catheterization technique were used to deliver the material to the correct place. Once the valve was implanted, the heart and primary vessels were extracted to confirm its position. Postmortem circulation proved to be essential in several of the cadavers because it helped the clinicians to deliver the material and improve their implantation techniques. Due to the intravascular circulation, sites with substantial arteriosclerotic stenosis could be bypassed, which would have been impossible without perfusion. Although originally developed for postmortem investigations, this reperfusion technique could be useful for testing new medical devices intended for living patients.

Keywords
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiography
  • Aortic Valve
  • Cadaver
  • Endovascular Procedures
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reperfusion/methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Citation (ISO format)
CHEVALLIER, Christine et al. Postmortem circulation: a new model for testing endovascular devices and training clinicians in their use. In: Clinical Anatomy, 2014, vol. 27, n° 4, p. 556–562. doi: 10.1002/ca.22357
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0897-3806
334views
0downloads

Technical informations

Creation09/18/2018 9:56:00 AM
First validation09/18/2018 9:56:00 AM
Update time03/15/2023 3:12:40 PM
Status update03/15/2023 3:12:39 PM
Last indexation10/31/2024 12:10:36 PM
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack