Small aortic annulus: The hydrodynamic performances of 5 commercially available tissue valves

Assuming that the valve holder is comparable with a defined aortic annulus of 21 mm in which a spread of supra-annular tissue valves could be fitted, this hydrodynamic evaluation model allows comparison of the efficiency of currently available bioprostheses with a definite tissue annulus diameter. Pericardial valves exhibited the best performances, and the Mitroflow valve showed the lowest gradients and stroke work loss at increasing cardiac output.