[Manufacture of valvular prostheses from bovine pericardium, their evaluation and the initial results of the 1st group of implants].

The results obtained with some types of bioprostheses together with the present economical situation of the country pointed out that the manufacture of another type of bioprostheses was necessary. After a careful analysis of the results that had been reported in the literature with the diverse types of bioprostheses had been made, it was concluded that pericardial valves were the best choice for our specific requirements. The first problem that had to be solved was the identification of the adequate fraction of purified glutaraldehyde that would provide for adequate tissue fixation. This was determined using several types of biophysical and biochemical techniques. The next step was to find the adequate manufacturing techniques that would provide us with optimal function valves. This was achieved by testing the functional characteristics of these valves on a cardiac cycle simulator. The first group of 132 patients that received this type of valve includes 9 multiple valve replacements, 24 aortic, 98 mitral and 1 pulmonary valve replacements. All the surviving patients have shown a clear improvement and they all show adequate function of their bioprostheses. The function of the valves has not been involved in any of the patient deaths. Since there has not been any evidence of disfunction, these results show that the manufacturing techniques and the design of these bioprostheses is adequate. Naturally to long-term durability of these valves will have to wait before it can be valorated.