title: Long-term follow-up studies after homograft replacement of the mitral valve.
abstract: Follow-up studies on 132 patients who have received fresh aortic homograft replacement of the mitral valve since May 1967 indicate good long-term function of the valve. Clinically the majority of patients are greatly improved and are free from the risks of long-term anticoagulant therapy. Hemodynamic studies performed on 13 patients at 25 to 41 months postoperatively showed a significant decrease in left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures with a small increase in cardiac output. Late deterioration of the homograft produced severe insufficiency in four cases and organic stenosis in two cases. Reasons for isolated deterioration are suggested.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous