[Cryopreserved allo-grafts in aortic valve surgery]

Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery resumed research into cryopreservation and creation of valve bank in 1990. This technology allowed preparation of valve allo-grafts with preserved cell reproductive capacity for clinical use. A new technology, allowing reduction of calcinosis in the graft's aortic wall, was developed and experimentally tested in 2003. 61 aortic valve replacements with cryopreserved allo-grafts were performed between 1992 and 2003. The three techniques of implantation included: subcoronary (38), intraaortic cylinder (8) and "free-standing root" (15). 44 patients developed active infective or prosthetic endocarditis. Hospital mortality rate was 11.5%, 12-year survival rate--90%. Dysfunctions and reoperations were significantly rarer in cases of inclusion cylinder and free standing root. The authors conclude that cryopreserved allo-grafts allow good quality of life without use of anticoagulants and low rate of reinfection. The use of subcoronary technique for implantation must be limited and method of choice should be free-standing root, especially in cases of destructive infective or prosthetic endocarditis. Cellular engineering probably will elongate the stability of long-term results.