Cryopreserved aortic homograft for aortic valve replacement: immediate results

To assess immediate clinical and echocardiographic results of the use of cryopreserved aortic homografts for aortic valve replacement.

Eighteen patients with aortic valve disease underwent aortic valve replacement, receiving a cryopreserved aortic homograft, 15 were male, 10 had aortic regurgitation, and 8 had aortic stenosis. Age ranged from 18 to 65 years (mean, 44.5 +/- 18.14 years). Four patients had infective endocarditis, 12 patients were in functional class II, and 6 patients were in functional class III (NYHA). Left ventricular function was normal in 15 patients.

Hospital mortality was 5.5% (1 patient) due to respiratory distress; the other patients were discharged from the hospital between the fifth and eighth postoperative days in functional class I. Maximal aortic transvalvular gradient, on echocardiography, ranged from 0 to 30 mmHg, with a mean of 10.9 +/- 9.2 mmHg. Five patients did not have any degree of regurgitation through the aortic homograft, 11 patients (61.1%) had minimal regurgitation, and 2 had mild regurgitation. Duration of extracorporeal circulation ranged from 130 to 220 minutes (mean, 183.9 +/- 36.7 minutes). Duration of aortic clamping ranged from 102 to 168 minutes (mean, 139.14 +/- 25.10 minutes). Bleeding in the postoperative period ranged from 210 to 1220 mL, with a mean of 511.4 +/- 335.1 mL. Reoperations were not necessary. Duration of orotracheal intubation ranged from 2 hours 50 minutes to 17 hours with a mean of 9.14 +/- 3.6 hours.

Cryopreserved aortic homografts may be routinely used with low hospital morbidity and mortality.