Linda Grefen

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich | LMU · Department of Cardiac Surgery

Objectives In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess incidence, possible causes and clinical consequences of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) following aortic root replacement with valved composite grafts and concomitant aortic arch repair. Methods Between January 2016 and December 2022, 454 patients underwent Bentall procedures with...

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices have become an important treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure. However, adverse hemodynamic effects as consequence of an altered blood flow within the aorta and the aortic root remain a topic of concern. In this work, we investigated the influence of the outflow graft orientation...

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have evolved from a bridge to heart transplantation to a more common destination therapy for end-stage heart failure. Complications such as outflow graft stenosis, with a reported probability of 6% at 5 years post-LVAD support, pose significant challenges. Emergent surgical decompression or cardiac transplant...

Introduction: The aim of this study was the initial investigation of 4D-Flow MRI and Vector Ultrasound as novel imaging techniques in the in-vitro analysis of hemodynamics in anatomical models. Specifically, by looking at the hemodynamic performance of state-of-the-art surgical heart valves in a 3D-printed aortic arch. Methods: The mock circulatory...

Background Myxomas are uncommon and benign cardiac neoplasms that can present with various cardiac, systemic, embolic, or without symptoms depending on their location and size. Very few cases of large, truly biatrial, or tumours connected via the cardiac atria have been reported throughout the years. Case summary We present an unusual case of an a...

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Perikard wird vielfältig als Biomaterial eingesetzt, insbesondere in der Herzchirurgie. Im Falle von xenogenem Gewebe sind Methoden zur Prozessierung für die klinische Anwendung unabdingbar. In dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene Methoden zur Aufbereitung entwickelt, angewandt und systematisch verglichen. Material und Me...

The demand for decellularized xenogeneic tissues used in reconstructive heart surgery has increased over the last decades. Complete decellularization of longer and tubular aortic sections suitable for clinical application has not been achieved so far. The present study aims at analyzing the effect of pressure application on decellularization effica...

Objective: The optimal degree of proximal thoracic endograft oversizing when aiming for durable sealing in prosthetic grafts is unknown. The aim of the present study was to create an in vitro model for testing different oversized thoracic endografts in a reproducible and standardized manner and, subsequently, determine the optimal oversizing range...

Background: Preoperative anxiety in cardiac surgery can lead to prolonged hospital stays and negative postoperative outcomes. An improved patient education using 3D models may reduce preoperative anxiety and risks associated with it. Methods: Patient education was performed with standardized paper-based methods (n = 34), 3D-printed models (n = 3...

Electrospinning has become a widely used technique in cardiovascular tissue engineering as it offers the possibility to create (micro-)fibrous scaffolds with adjustable properties. The aim of this study was to create multilayered scaffolds mimicking the architectural fiber characteristics of human heart valve leaflets using conductive 3D-printed co...

Objectives Decellularization of biomaterials with bioreactors is widely used to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering. This study uses 3D-printing to develop efficient but low-cost decellularization bioreactors. Methods Two bioreactors were developed to decellularize pericardial patches and vascular grafts. Flow profiles and pressure distributi...

Nowadays sensor networks are not solely used in industrial settings anymore but are accessible to the public and thus allow for broad and diverse applications. The technical advancement of cyber-physical systems (CPS) paved the way for an easy and fast development of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In this work, a voting wristband that uses hand...

Pericardial tissue is widely used as a biomaterial, especially for cardiovascular application. Tissue processing plays a key role in developing future scaffolds derived from biological material, yet standardized evaluation is still pending. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of different treatment protocols of bovine pericardium and com...