The development of tissue-engineered grafts for reconstructive cardiothoracic surgical applications

Surgical correction of congenital heart defects often requires the use of valves, patches, or conduits to establish anatomic continuity. Homografts, xenografts, or mechanical prosthetic devices are frequently implanted during these surgical procedures. These grafts however lack growth potential, are associated with increased risk of thrombosis and infection and have limited durability, thus increasing the morbidity and mortality of their application in pediatric cardiac surgery. These limitations are being addressed through the development of living, biologic tissue-engineered valves, patches, and conduits. Pilot studies and phase I clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate their feasibility, safety, and efficacy. The optimal scaffold, cell source, and conditioning parameters, however, still remain to be determined and are areas of active research.