The Homograft Aortic Valve: A 29-Year, 99.3% Follow Up of 1,022 Valve Replacements
Mark F. O’Brien FRACS, Susan Harrocks BN, Eugene G. Stafford FRACS, Michael A. H. Gardner FRACS, Peter G. Pohlner FRACS, Peter J. Tesar FRACS, Fiona Stephens M App Sci

Between 1969 and 1998 (29 years), 1,022 patients gave a 99.3% complete follow up with an overall 3% early mortality and a subset of 1.13 ± 1.0% early mortality for 352 full root replacement operations. Preservation methods (4°C antibiotic-stored or cryopreserved) and implantation techniques displayed no difference in the overall incidence of late survival, endocarditis, thromboembolism or structural degeneration requiring reoperation. Patient age (< 20 years) gave a poor durability record (47% freedom from reoperation for structural degeneration at 10 years) compared with 96% at 15 years for the >60 years patient group. The position of the homograft in relationship to other implant devices is outlined.