Abstract

Background Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital condition which frequently results in premature valve calcification, thickening and aortic stenosis. Eccentric aortic jets may cause inaccurate estimates of transvalvular pressure drops (TPD) using conventional Doppler echocardiographic techniques and the Simplified Bernoulli (SB) equation. Improved diagnostic strategies are emerging, but refinement and development are limited by access to in vivo data. We describe a novel fabrication method to recreate the pathophysiological behaviour of the BAV. MRI of 4D-flow characteristics and non-invasive TPD estimation using simplified advective work (SAW) and SB were compared between a fabricated BAV and in vivo BAV. Methods In Vitro: De-gassed silicone 0030 was injected into custom 3D-printed multi-part moulds to create a generic aortic valve model. BAV anatomy was replicated by dissecting apart valve …