The fate of preserved homograft pericardium and autogenous pericardium within the heart.

Animal experiments were performed to assess the usefulness of preserved homograft pericardium for intracardiac surgery, with particular reference to the problem of homograft mitral valve papillary muscle fixation. The fate of fresh autogenous pericardium was also studied. Both homograft and autogenous pericardium were destroyed and replaced by fibrous tissue. This reaction was faster when the pericardium was in direct contact with the blood stream and slower when it was buried within the myocardium. As homograft pericardium provided a more intense fibrous reaction than autogenous pericardium, it was considered to be very suitable for papillary muscle fixation and less suitable for other intracardiac procedures. The technique used for attaching the papillary muscle of a homograft mitral valve is briefly described.