Animal Models for Cardiac Valve Research

The modern era of cardiac valve repair and replacement has its foundations rooted in the pioneering research completed by surgeons, scientists, and engineers in animal research laboratories. Today, animal models are required for the preclinical assessment of cardiac valve technologies, prior to human clinical studies and/or medical usage. More importantly, these same advances in cardiac technologies are also benefiting countless subjects in the field of veterinary science. A well-designed, executed, and reported preclinical animal testing protocol addresses the factors required to predict the safety and efficacy of clinical use of a novel valve repair or replacement therapy. This chapter will review some of the key issues related to preclinical testing of cardiac valve technologies.