The use of "fresh" unstented homograft valves for replacement of the aortic valve. Analysis of 8 years' experience.

Between August, 1969 and May 1978, 679 patients underwent homograft replacement of the aortic valve. Isolated elective valve replacement was performed in 411 patients. Thirty-four patients had total aortic root replacement with reimplantation of the coronary arteries. There were 16 early deaths (3.9%) and 43 late deaths (10.5%) during a follow-up between 3 and 102 months (mean 47 months). Actuarial analysis showed 87% survival at 5 years and 81% at 8 years. Valve failure occurred in 24 patients (5.9%) owing to prolapse of one cusp in eight patients (2.0%), infective endocarditis in seven patients (1.7%), and degeneration of the valve in nine patients (2.2%). Degenerative valve failure was encountered after the fourth year with an incidence of 4.8% of patients at risk and occurred only in grafts from donors over the age of 65 years. Diastolic murmurs were present in 28% of patients followed beyond 1 month and increased very slightly with time. Systemic embolism was not recorded in any patient despite the fact that anticoagulants were not used. The clinical results were judged to be good or excellent in 89% of patients. It is concluded that homograft replacement of the aortic valve gives satisfactory results with a low incidence of late valve failure.