title: Midterm results of aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved homografts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the midterm clinical results of aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved homografts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic valve replacement was performed in 40 patients with cryopreserved homograft. The indications were aortic valve endocarditis in 20 patients (50%), truncus arteriosus in 6 patients (15%), and re-stenosis or regurtitation after aortic valve reconstruction in 14 (35%) patients. The valve sizes ranged from 10 to 27mm. A full root replacement technique was used for homograft replacement in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 12.5% (5 patients). There were four late deaths. Only one of them was related to cardiac events. Overall mortality was 22.5%. Thirty-three patients were followed up for 67±26 months. Two patients needed reoperation due to aortic aneurysm caused by endocarditis. The mean transvalvular gradient significantly decreased after valve replacement (p<0.003). The last follow up showed that the 27 (82%) patients had a normal left ventricular function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryopreserved homografts are safe alternatives to mechanical valves that can be used when there are proper indications. Although it has a high perioperative mortality rate, cryopreserved homograft implantation is an alternative for valve replacement, particularly in younger patients and for complex surgical problems such as endocarditis that must be minimalized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, İstanbul Medical Application and Research Center, Başkent University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vuran
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wollenek
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozker
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Acıbadem Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aslım
keywords: Aortic valve replacement; cryopreserved homograft; endocarditis; heart valve banking