CARDIAC VALVE ALLOGRAFTS (HOMOGRAFTS) highlights the current controversy about freehand subcoronary aortic valve and root replacement with regard to postoperative morbidity and long term durability. It discusses particular implantation techniques of preference in young patients and in different root pathology. Other chapters address intermediate- and long-term results on cardiac valve and vascular homografts for treating complicating cardiac valve and aortic infections. The chapter on basic science additionally makes this book a highly authoritative reference source for cardiac surgeons, physicians and scientists. This work provides a current survey of the state-of-the-art.

Cardiac surgery has developed dramatically since the first open-he art operations were performed in the mid 1950s. Although the improvement of surgical technique, extracorporeal circulation, and postoperative management has contributed to a marked reduction of morbidity and mortality, the development of cardiac surgery to its present state would not have been possible without blood substitution by homologous donor blood. Only 20 years ago, open-heart operations required an average of 8 units of blood preserves. The excessive need of donor blood in those early days was mainly due to premature surgical technique, insecure control of anticoagulation, severe blood trauma by extracorporeal circulation, and the lack of retransfusion technologies that would have allowed the reuse of shed mediastinal blood. The introduction of new technologies, such as normovolemic hemodilution, in traoperative autotransfusion, postoperative return of shed mediastinal blood, and predonation of autologous blood has greatly reduced donor blood requirements. At present the majority of routine coronary artery surgical procedures can be performed without any blood transfusion. Blood loss, however, may be considerable in patients undergoing complex valve surgery or reoperations, as they often require several units of transfused blood. Blood conservation has now become an area of major interest for the cardiac surgeon. This increased concern is caused by infectious complications of blood transfusion, in particular hepatitis and, more recently, AIDS."

The International Symposium on Ischemic Mitral Incompetence was held December2-4,1988 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Berlin . It wasorganized bythe German Heart Center Berlin with the primary aim to bring together experts interested in the subject of ischemic mitral regurgitation. Our intention was to face the problems associated with diagnosis and treatment of mitral incompetence resulting from coronary artery disease. A "work-up" of the whole topic from its basic, diagnostic, and surgical aspects wasinitiated. In the first section weconcentrate on the basic anatomical and pathophysiological knowledge, as well as on experimental work. In the second section cardiologists report on inci- dence of ischemic mitral incompetence, diagnostic methods that include esophageal echocardiography, follow-up studies of medical- and surgical-treated patients. This section considers interventional therapy in acute myocardial infarc- tion, as well. The third section includes contributions by cardiac surgeons with many years' experience in operative treatment of ischemic mitral incompetence including the decision-making criteria for non-mitral valve surgery, and for valve reconstruction or replacement.

After decades of laboratory investigations mechanical circulatory support for the failing heart has entered the clinical arena. Today, a growing number of patients with progressive myocardial failure awaiting cardiac transplantation is successfully bridged to transplantation with ventricular assist devices. The proceedings of the "Mechanical Circulatory Support"-meeting, held in Berlin, October 21-22, 1995, present new aspects of mechanical circulatory support, recent experience with MCS in newborns and children using specially developed small devices, and the results of long-term mechanical assistance. The ability of the myocardium to recover under pressure de-loading and reduced workload is discussed. All these topics open up new perspectives for the use of mechanical circulatory support, not only as a bridge to transplantation, but also as a definitive approach for treating patients with end-stage heart failure. Some of these concepts may even provide real alternatives to heart transplantation, these being sorely needed in light of the severe donor organ shortage. Regulatory as well as ethical aspects of the extended use of mechanical circulatory support systems and new technical developments in the field are discussed by internationally distinguished experts.

It was the genius of Gordon Murray in Toronto that introduced the use of allografts into cardiac surgery in the 1950s. Soon after this on opposite sides ofthe world, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes in Auckland, New Zealand, and Mr. Donald Ross in London, undertook to use allografts for the replacement of diseased aortic valves. Since that time the global interest in allografts has been patchy, episodic, and without a con sensus. Nonetheless, for the last 20 years at least three groups in the world have steadfastly pursued the development of new and relevant information concerning the use of allograft valves in humans. These are the centres of Sir Brian Barratt Boyes, Mr. Donald Ross, and Mark O'Brien in Brisbane. More recently, talented investigators, including Drs. Yankah, Yacoub, and others, have been developing information concerning the immunological aspects of the use of allografts, as well as their clinical use. No doubt, at present, cardiac valve allografts of one sort or another are the devices of choice for conduits and have an important place in the surgery of aortic valve replacement. Even so, in the mind of this writer at least, the future usefulness of allografts for the replacement of diseased cardiac valves and conduits between a ventricle and the pulmonary artery, remains problematic, and depends upon improvements in other devices for this purpose and upon improve ments that may be made in preparing and using allografts."