An exceedingly low operative mortality given by stentless autologous, homologous, and heterologous aortic valves for aortic valve replacement.

Homologous, autologous, and heterologous stentless valves were implanted into 663 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement by standard conventional methods. An exceedingly low mortality rate was achieved for the whole series, with the last consecutive 311 patients experiencing zero mortality. This analysis encompasses the hospitals' total experiences with these three stentless valves and examines only the low and zero mortalities. The three stentless valves were the aortic allograft used as a root replacement in 374 patients (mean age 43 years, 8.8% for active endocarditis), the pulmonary autograft used as a root replacement (22 patients, mean age 34 years) and the Cryolife O'Brien Model 300 stentless composite porcine glutaraldehyde-preserved aortic xenograft (267 patients, mean age 73 years, 16% 80 years or older, 55% concomitant procedures). Overall mortality rate was 1.1%. The seven deaths were essentially non-valve- and non-procedure-related. Of the last consecutive 311 patients, the mortality rate has been zero (166 allografts, 22 autografts, and 123 stentless xenografts). As a result of a careful, planned introduction of each valve and good experience and training in implant techniques, this low mortality and consecutive zero mortality suggest a "modern-day gold standard."