Research Article

International Heart Valve Bank Survey: A Review of Processing Practices and Activity Outcomes

Table 11

Reasons for product failure and why released products were not implanted.

Reasons for product failureNumber of HVBsReasons why released products were not implantedNumber of HVBs

During evaluation of tissue and processingUncontrollable factors
 Abnormal morphology10 Size demands for valves11
 Failure in valve competency3 Aortic valve/nonvalve products not in demand10
 Technical issues3 Beyond maximum storage duration5
 Deferred due to size/type of graft1 Decision during surgery4

After tissue processingFactors that can be improved on
 Positive microbiological results of graft21 Damage of graft during thawing1
 Positive serology results of donor5 Intraoperative contamination of graft1
 Quality/donor related3 Incorrect size of graft 1
 Quality of graft1