CardioCel Tri-leaflet Repair Study

This study will quantify the safety and efficacy of the CardioCel implant in tri-leaflet repair. 80 patients in up to 7 sites in Europe and the US will all be treated with the CardioCel implant.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the CardioCel for the repair of aortic valve stenosis and/or insufficiency. CardioCel is a cardiovascular patch manufactured with the so called ADAPT® technology. The ADAPT technology uses bovine spongiform encephalopathy-free pericardium which is processed in several ways to make it biocompatible with human tissue. CardioCel should provide an off the shelf material solution for tri-leaflet repair surgery due to its functional attributes, low propensity for post implant calcification, and overall biocompatibility. As a result adverse events and complications associated with the autologous pericardium repair surgery are mitigated.

In this study patients suffering from moderate-to-severe aortic stenosis and/or aortic insufficiency will be included.

In this study 80 patients will be enrolled in up to 7 centers in Europe and the US. The expected study duration is 36 months; 12 months of recruitment and 24 months follow-up.

CardioCel is US FDA cleared for the repair of cardiac and vascular defects, including intra-cardiac defects; septal defects, valve and annulus repair, great vessel reconstruction, peripheral vascular reconstruction, suture line buttressing and pericardial closure.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. The subject's annular measurements are ≥ 19 mm to \< 27mm as confirmed on pre-op echo and inter commissure distance equal to or bigger than 19mm as confirmed intraoperatively.
2. The subject is suitable for a tri-leaflet repair.
3. The subject has documented moderate-to-severe AS and/or AI.
4. The subject is willing and able to comply with specified follow-up evaluations, including trans oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) if there are inadequate images by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to assess the aortic valve. The subject has reviewed and signed the written informed consent form.
5. The subject upon final intraoperative assessment has intracardiac anatomy suitable for tri-leaflet repair using CardioCel.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Greater than 85 years of age at the time of consent.
2. The subject's annular measurements \< 19 mm or \> 27mm.
3. All patients will be excluded who require emergent surgery (within 24 hours of a presentation to an emergency department) for any reason.
4. The subject will be excluded with pre-existing valve prosthesis in the aortic position.
5. Patients requiring repair of other cardiac valves will be excluded.
6. The subject has active endocarditis.
7. Heavily calcified aortic roots or "porcelain aortas" (as evidenced on cardiac echo).
8. Leukopenia with a WBC of less than 3000 cells per microliter.
9. Acute anaemia with a haemoglobin less than 8 g/dL.
10. Platelet count less than 150.000 platelets/microliter.
11. History of a defined bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy or the subject refuses blood transfusions.
12. Active infection requiring antibiotic therapy (if temporary illness, subjects may enrol 2-4 weeks after discontinuation of antibiotics).
13. Subjects in whom trans oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is contraindicated.
14. Low Ejection Fraction (EF) \< 35%.
15. Life expectancy \< 1 year, or severe comorbidities, such as cancer, dialysis, or severe COPD at the investigator's discretion
16. The subject is an illicit drug user, alcohol abuser, prisoner, institutionalised, or is unable to give informed consent.
17. The subject is pregnant or lactating (non-pregnancy to be confirmed by pregnancy test for all child bearing potential females prior to enrolment).
18. Recent (within 6 months) cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
19. Myocardial Infarction (MI) within one month of trial inclusion
20. Upon intraoperative assessment of the intracardiac anatomy the patient is not suitable for tri-leaflet repair using CardioCel.