Original expectations of the Hancock valve and 20 years of clinical reality

: The standard (glutaraldehyde-preserved) Hancock porcine bioprosthesis was introduced into clinical practice in order to provide surgeons with a cardiac valve substitute which would be nonthrombogenic and therefore would not require anticoagulation, and would be durable, anatomically suitable, and noiseless. In the present report we have reviewed our long-term experience with Hancock porcine valve recipients in order to verify the original expectations of this bioprosthesis have been met.