Computed Tomography-based evaluation of porcine cardiac dimensions to assist in pre-study planning and optimized model selection for pre-clinical research

The pig (Sus Scrofa Domestica) is an accepted model for preclinical evaluation of prosthetic heart valves and trans-catheter implantation techniques. Understanding porcine cardiac dimensions through three-dimensional computed tomography (CT), increases preclinical study success, leading to higher cost efficiency and to the observance of the obligation to the 3 R principles. Cardiac CT images of twenty-four Swiss large white pigs were segmented; aortic root, mitral valve, pulmonary trunk, tricuspid valve, as well as the aorto-mitral angle and left atrial height were analyzed. Correlation coefficient (r) was calculated in relation to body weight. In Swiss large white pigs, valvular dimensions, length of the pulmonary artery and ascending aorta as well as left atrial height correlate with body weight. Coronary ostia heights and aorto-mitral angle size can be neglected in animal size selection; no changes were found for either of the two parameters with increasing body weight.