Preservation of human heart valves for replacement at the Tissue Bank, Viet Duc University Hospital from 2018 to 2023

Abstract

The preservation of heart valve tissue with viable cells in tissue banks has ensured that surgeons always have a reserve of heart valves available, which can be actively and appropriately used according to the size and type needed for each patient requiring a replacement. This study was conducted to evaluate the collection, preparation, preservation, and transplant of heart valve homograft at the Tissue Bank, Viet Duc University Hospital, from October 2018 to October 2023. The results show that the Tissue Bank collected 78 heart valves from 39 donors. In which, the average age of donor patients was 36.2±17.3 (7-69); men account for 76.9%. 100% of patients tested negative for HIV; 97.4% were negative for HBV and HCV; 9% of valves were removed due to morphology, hepatitis B infection, and hepatitis C infection. 100% of valves had negative microbiological results during tissue recovery, antibiotic soaking and post thawing. 51 homografts had been implanted into recipients with congenital or acquired heart valve conditions; the average age of transplant patients is 29.7±16.70 years (2-68); the average storage time until transplantation is 9.4±10.2 months (6 days - 41.7 months); 36 patients have been alive/stable after transplantation, 3 patients have died.