Cardiac valve allografts have been used as replacements for diseased valves and right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, the long term follow-up of which has been reported satisfactory. For a good long-term result, it is essential that the
allograft be viable at implantation.
In this study, we aimed at preparing the cardiac valve allografts aseptically, preserving them at cold- and cryo-conditions, and testing the viability of the allografts after preservation by four methods.
We tested the viability of the cardiac valve allografts preserved in cold refrigerated state (4℃ in nutrient media ) & in liquid nitrogen tank (cryopreservation under -149℃) for pre-planned time periods. The testing methods were 1) glucose
utility
test, 2) tissue culture, 3) thymidine uptake test and 4) histologic evidence by light microscopy. We observed no differences in the viability between cold-& cryo-groups and similar results among the methods for testing the viability.
In conclusion, there was no difference in the viability between cold- and cryopreserved-allografts at least for 14 days of preservation. And glucose utility test and thymidine uptake test were satisfactory in the evaluati8on of the allograft
vlability,
since they were easy and rapid with relatively quantitative results.
(Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995;28:731-41)
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