Aortic Valve Replacement Using Fresh Unstented Homografts

Abstract

Valve replacement has favourably altered the natural history of patients with advanced aortic valve disease. The choice of the valve substitute remains a problem due to the high incidence of complications associated with many of the currently available valve substitutes. Valve homografts offer the ideal flow characteristics and are free from thromboembolic complications. The all important long-term function of the grafts depend on preserving their histological and physical properties. A technique of sterilising the homografts with antibiotic solutions has been developed and its effect of the physical and biological properties of the grafts has been extensively tested. The encouraging results in aortic valve replacement using fresh unstented homografts obtained at the Harefield Hospital are discussed.