Aortic-Valve Homograft in the Treatment of Aortic Insufficiency

Abstract

THE surgical relief of both congenital and acquired valvular obstruction has been one of the major advances in the recent history of cardiac surgery. Because of the technical difficulties involved the repair of incompetent valves has made much slower progress. In this situation a blind procedure is obviously unsatisfactory. The surgeon therefore requires direct visualization of the valve and sufficient time to evaluate the nature of the problem. An open procedure necessarily involves the maintenance of circulation by a heart-lung machine, with its attendant difficulties and increased morbidity rate. Notwithstanding good anesthetic and operative technics the surgeon may encounter such . . .