Clinical use of glutaraldehyde preserved stent-mounted semilunar homograft valves

The results of mitral valve replacement with flexible stent-mounted antibiotic sterilised, glutaraldehyde preserved semilunar homografts are reported in 104 patients with isolated mitral valve disease. Thirty per cent patients belonged to NYHA class IV and 68 per cent were in class III. The hospital mortality was 26.9 per cent. Of the total 67 hospital survivors 72.37 per cent patients were available for follow-up. Time-related late death rate is 6.06±2.02 per cent per year. Valve-related complications involved allograft stenosis in two patients, allograft regurgitation in one, paravalvular leak in one, thromboembolic episode in one and infective endocarditis in two patients. Good functional results were achieved in the surviving patients. The valves were provided free of cost to the patients.