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Edward A. Rittenhouse, MD; Murray P. Sands; Hitoshi Mohri, MD, DMS; K. Alvin Merendino, MD, PhD

AMA Arch Surg. 1970;101(1):1-5.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Valve graft sterility is a prerequisite for long term success in transplantation of homologous or heterologous aortic valves. Grafts obtained sterilely or unsterilely have been treated with β-propiolactone,^1,2 ethylene oxide,³ irradiation,^4,5 4% buffered formaldehyde solution (formalin),⁶ and antibiotic solutions.⁷ These methods are generally considered effective in eliminating organisms from the tissue. However, the long-term resistance to infection of grafts so prepared is not known. Endocarditis involving the homograft has been reported by several investigators utilizing these techniques,^4,6,8-11 although the incidence is not particularly higher than prosthetic substitutes. Analysis of our own experience¹² with the β-propiolactone sterilized valve revealed late failure from infection in a high percentage of cases, but common bacteria were not responsible for failure in most patients.

The relative importance of factors such as the type of bacteria present at the time of harvest, interval between donor's death and valve procurement, . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Seattle

From the Department of Surgery and the First Surgical Service of the University Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle. Sands is a postdoctoral research fellow of the Public Health Service.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 19, 1970.

Reprint requests to Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98105 (Dr. Merendino).

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