Long‐Term Performance of Homograft and Autograft Valves

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Abstract
Homograft valves (580) were inserted into the aortic position as isolated valve replacements, and followed up for 7-14 yr. After 10 yr 90% of frozen homografts, 80% of autografts and 70% of freeze-dried homografts were free of valve-related death. There was only 1 embolism reported per 143,928 patient mo. Degeneration occurred in 14% of the autografts, 30% of the freeze dried and 60% of the frozen homografts after 10 yr. Of the fresh homografts 80% were free of degeneration after 7 yr and 54% of freeze-dried valves were free of degeneration after 14 yr. Long-term performance of homograft and autograft valves in the aortic position is comparable to that of any prosthetic or bioprosthetic valve. They are non-thrombogenic and excellent in terms of patient survival.