European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 3, 558-561, Copyright © 1989 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Aortic valve replacement with frozen irradiated homografts. An 18-year experience
G Campalani, JA Chalmers and EJ Weaver
Cardiothoracic Unit, London Hospital, UK.
Between May 1968 and April 1981, 339 patients underwent isolated aortic
valve replacement using frozen irradiated homografts. All the operations
were carried out by the same surgeon (EJMW) using the same technique.
Thirty-two patients were lost to follow-up at various stages and the
long-term results of the remaining 307 patients are reported. Two hundred
and thirty-four were males and 73 females. Their ages ranged between 10 and
75 years, with a mean age of 53. The dominant lesion was aortic stenosis in
195 cases (63.5%), aortic regurgitation in 68 (22.1%), and mixed aortic
valve disease in 44 (14.3%). Early mortality was 8.8% and late mortality
during the 5-18 year follow-up period was 49.6%. Re-operations for
homograft failure were carried out in 112 patients (40%), with an early
mortality of 25%. The results are compared with those of other major series
using antibiotic sterilized homograft valves.