Abstract

An attempt has been made to determine the important criteria for evaluation of various substitute valves from the standpoint of practical clinical experience, and to rate the broadly grouped types of valves with respect to these criteria. Stented fascia lata valves received the highest overall ranking, but, owing to their recent introduction, should probably not be generally adopted by most surgeons in preference to second and third prosthetic or homograft valves until a favourable record is proved by another two to three years of experience.