The authors present the results of surgical management of patients with mitral valve lesions. In 21 subjects replacement of the mitral valve with calf aortic graft was performed. The heterograft prepared according to O'Brien's technique, and reinforced by a metal-terital ring, was inserted into the mitral ostium. The operative method is described and the enclosed tables show the clinical pre-and postoperative findings based on short term follow-up observations.The absence of any postoperative complications with the inserted heterografts, in contrast to multiple troubles with the use of artificial prostheses, is related to the qualities of biological tissue which seem superior to the plastic grafts. Further observation of the patients and a greater number of cases will enable us to draw more precise conclusions concerning the long term fate of heterografts.
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