Frame-mounted tissue heart valves: technique of construction.

Since the first frame-mounted fascia lata heart valves were used clinically (Ionescu and Ross, 1969), over 260 tissue valves made of autologous or homologous fascia lata or of heterologous pericardium have been inserted at this institution in the mitral, aortic, and tricuspid positions. Encouraged by our results, especially with aortic valve replacement, over more than four and a half years (Ionescu et al., 1974), we continue the clinical and laboratory testing and evaluation of frame-mounted tissue valves. The experience so far has shown that one important factor on which the long-term function of these valves depends is their perfect construction before insertion (Swales, Holden, Dowson, and Ionescu, 1973). The technical details for the manufacture and preservation of stented tissue valves are described in this paper. The changes and improvements in construction consequent upon the clinical and laboratory results are discussed.