Allograft heart valve viability and valve-processing variables.
BACKGROUND
The impact of allograft valve viability on valve durability remains controversial. Analyses of our clinical results have demonstrated the superiority of the cryopreserved valve viable at the time of implantation over the 4 degrees C stored valve nonviable at the time of implantation. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the effects on viability of current and past valve-processing protocols at The Prince Charles Hospital.


METHODS
The viability of pulmonary valves was quantitatively analyzed by thin-layer autoradiography to assess the effects of donor type, antibiotics, and valve storage.


RESULTS
Control valve segments obtained from beating-heart donor valves had a higher initial viability (0.92+/-0.02) than nonbeating-heart donor valves (0.66+/-0.03). Cryopreservation after low-dose antibiotic sterilization significantly reduced viability to 50% to 60% of the control, and in the presence of amphotericin B, viability dropped further to 10% to 36% of the control. After 7 days' storage at 4 degrees C, viability was reduced to 2% of control and to 0% viability after 21 days.


CONCLUSIONS
For maximal preimplantation viability, valves should be procured as soon as possible after cessation of heart beat and should be cryopreserved if they are not to be clinically implanted within 1 to 2 days. Amphotericin B should not be used in conjunction with cryopreservation if viability is to be maximized.
Gall
K L
KL
Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Brisbane, Australia.
Smith
S E
SE
Willmette
C A
CA
O'Brien
M F
MF
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001345:Autoradiography; D002452:Cell Count; D004396:Coloring Agents; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D009926:Organ Preservation; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D013242:Sterilization; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000145:classification; D014022:Tissue Survival; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide