The Stented Porcine Bioprosthesis: A 50-year journey through hopes and realities

Abstract The year 2018 has marked the 50 th anniversary of the first implant of a commercially manufactured stented porcine bioprosthesis. During the subsequent years considerable clinical and pathological research has been carried out to evaluate the overall performance of such devices and to identify the leading causes of failure. This brief review covers 5 decades summarizing the initial hopes and the realities faced by surgeons who have believed from the start in these cardiac valve substitutes. Based on reported failures and long-term results a new generation of durable and reliable stented porcine bioprosthetic valves is currently available