Mid-term evaluation of cryopreserved aortic allograft

Recently aortic root replacement and free-hand aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved allograft are accepted and established as useful procedures in USA and Europe. Otherwise allograft aortic valve failure due to structural valve degeneration, progressive loss of leaflet extensibility or progressive aortic root dilatation are reported. Aortic root replacement and free-hand aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved allograft were performed on three patients in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, NCVC between March of 1992 and March of 1994. We evaluated the mid-term function of implanted allograft. Case 1, 2; 58-year-old male and 42-year-old male with aortic regurgitation due to Aortitis had modified Bentall procedures with composite graft and had redo surgery for aortic regurgitation due to graft detachment with cryopreserved allograft using “aortic root replacement”. Case 3: 54-year-old male received a cryopreserved allograft for aortic stenosis/regurgitation using “free-hand technique”. Postoperative echocardiogram showed excellent valve function without regurgitation any calcification in all cases. However chest computed tomography suggested the new calcification of allograft wall at 15 months after operation in Case 1 who was administered steroid agents, despite no calcification in Case 2 during 17 months follow-up.