[Valve replacement with cryopreserved allograft].
Allograft valves have several advantages such as 1) the absence of thromboembolic complications without anticoagulation, 2) superior durability to bioprosthetic valves, 3) good resistance to infection, 4) excellent hemodynamic performance especially in small sizes. Surgeons in western countries, therefore often use these valves and have reported good long-term results. In Japan, there have been only a small number of case reports on such valve replacement. We experienced five cases of valve replacement with cryopreserved allografts, four men and one woman. Four of them had formerly received AVR or Cabrol operation, and the prosthetic valve (graft) infection or aortitis syndrome was the main reason of reoperation. One 15 year-old woman suffering from congenital aortic stenosis underwent Ross operation with pulmonary allograft. Although one case with PVE received re-re-AVR 2 years and 4 months after the allograft replacement because of the recurrence of infection, the other four cases are in good condition long after the surgery. We hope that the use of allograft valves will become common in Japan.
Kobayashi
T
T
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Makuuchi
H
H
Naruse
Y
Y
Goto
M
M
Tanaka
K
K
Arimura
Y
Y
Katsu
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000637:transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome