10 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH PULMONARY AUTOGRAFT REPLACEMENTS FOR AORTIC-VALVE DISEASE

Pulmonary autograft valves have been used to replace isolated, diseased aortic valves for 10 years, with a long-term survival of 73%. The low incidence of degeneration supports the principle that the autograft valve is a potentially permanent valve replacement. Operative mortality is now less than 5%, despite the longer, more complex operation. The current use of fresh homograft valves for the pulmonary replacement has contributed to these excellent long-term results. © 1979, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. All rights reserved.