Homologous dura mater cardiac valves. Structural aspects of eight implanted valves.

We studied eight homologous dura mater valves removed 1 to 35 months after implantation. Five dura mater valves were placed in the mitral position and three in the aortic position. Two of the valves were obtained after deaths not related to the valve itself and six after reoperations due to immediate or late incompetence. In 2 cases the dura mater valves were entirely normal, both macroscopically and microscopically. In 2 other cases the leaflets were caught by stitches related to the struts, a technical error that caused laceration of the leaflets. Not withstanding this fact, the dura mater was normal on histologic examination. In 3 cases, and probably in 1 other, one or two leaflets were detached partially from the suture line, probably because of a technical error in the manufacture of the valve. These studies demonstrated satisfactory evolution of the homologous dura mater valves until 35 months after implantation. No signs of rejection or degeneration of the dura mater were observed in the present series.