Popis: |
Heart valve replacement is becoming more commonplace in developed nations. Despite this the ideal valve prosthesis has not been found. The allograft valve has been used for over 40 years and remains an important prosthesis with many advantages. However, like other biological valve prosthesis, they have a finite durability. The causes of allograft valve degeneration are still unknown. The study aims to identify factors associated with cryopreserved allograft valve degeneration. Knowledge of such factors will improve our understanding of the potential causes and mechanisms of allograft heart valve degeneration. (For complete abstract open document) |