The longevity of sterilized aortic valve homografts 1966-1972

Between 1966 and 1972 seventy-two adult patients underwent aortic valve replacement with unstented aortic valve homografts prepared by chemical beta-propiolactone sterilization and storage. There were 5 hospital deaths and 6 foreign patients are lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 61, there have been 7 late deaths. Thirty-one patients have needed re-operation and 6 of them died. To date, 13 patients still have their homografts--none take anticoagulants and endocarditis has not occurred. The technique for valve preparation is not currently used anywhere, but the results, especially with respect to freedom from endocarditis and from calcification compare most favourably with current methods. The relative freedom from calcification suggests that it may still have relevance to the problems of aortic and pulmonary valve replacement in children.