ATLANTA, October 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Surgical Congress to focus on new patient data supporting the Ross heart reconstruction procedure and the use of SynerGraft processed human heart valves in the Ross procedure

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a biomaterials, medical device and tissue processing company, announced today that cardiovascular surgeons from around the globe will participate in the Ross Summit 2008, a two-day surgical congress to be held at the Company's corporate headquarters training facility in Kennesaw, Ga. The program, slated for Oct. 10 and 11, has piqued the interest of the worldwide cardiovascular surgical community with approximately 80 cardiovascular surgeons from 11 countries convening to explore new data supporting the patient advantages of the Ross Procedure in cardiac reconstruction surgeries. In addition, the participants will have the opportunity to perfect their surgical techniques related to the procedure and to learn of new, related technologies now available. Mr. Donald N. Ross, FRCS, consultant surgeon, National Heart Hospital, London, and inventor of the procedure, will be the honored guest at the summit.

The Ross Procedure is a type of specialized aortic valve surgery in which the patient's diseased aortic valve is replaced with his or her own pulmonary valve. The pulmonary valve is then replaced with a human cryopreserved pulmonary valve. A new decellurized human pulmonary heart valve, CryoValve(R) SG, processed using CryoLife's SynerGraft(R) technology, was cleared by the FDA in February 2008 for use in cardiac reconstruction procedures including the Ross Procedure.

The Ross Summit's world renowned faculty, directed by William F. Northrup III, M.D., vice president, medical relations and education at CryoLife, Inc., will be led by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, FRS, FRCS, Imperial College, London, Heart Science Center.

"In children and young adults, or older, active patients, the Ross Procedure offers several advantages over other traditional aortic valve replacement options. The most important advantage is improved long-term survival," said Dr. Northrup. "However, the procedure requires very specific surgical expertise in order to achieve predictable, long-lasting results. The goal of this Summit is to provide the training necessary from acknowledged experts in the field. By doing so, we hope to expand the number of surgeons who can offer this procedure to their patients."

Additional distinguished cardiovascular surgeons on the Summit faculty include: Prof. Hans Sievers, M.D., FETCS, Klinik fur Herzchirugie, Luebeck, Germany; Emile A. Bacha, M.D., Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Mass.; Paul Stelzer, M.D., Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y.; Prof. John W. Brown, M.D., Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind.; Hanneke Takkenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Michael F. Teodori, M.D., Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Ariz.; Prof. Francisco da Costa, M.D., Santa Casa De Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil; Prof. Neal Kon, M.D., Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.: Prof. Ross Ungerleider, M.D., Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore.; and Giovanni Battista Luciani, M.D., University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

"The Ross Summit will create a unique atmosphere in which to engage in thought-provoking, interactive discussions about this ingenious surgical procedure with leading cardiovascular surgeons in the field," said Dr. Northrup. "The additional opportunity for hands-on valve implantation in a wet lab environment each day, led by Professors Yacoub and Sievers, offers an invaluable educational opportunity to these surgeons."

"The outstanding response we've received from the worldwide cardiovascular surgical community on this Summit is indicative of the professional interest in the Ross Procedure and in the new technologies and products related to it, such as the CryoValve SG," added Steven G. Anderson, chairman, president and CEO of CryoLife. "We look forward to hosting these surgeons and in playing a role in honing their technical skills, so that they can offer this surgical option to their patients."

About CryoLife, Inc.

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is a leader in the processing and distribution of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiac and vascular surgeries throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Company recently received FDA clearance for the CryoValve(R) SG pulmonary human heart valve, processed using CryoLife's proprietary SynerGraft(R) Technology. The Company's BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels. BioGlue is also CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada and Australia for use in soft tissue repair. CryoLife distributes Hemostase MPH(R), a hemostatic agent, in much of the U.S. for use in cardiac and vascular surgery and in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Canada for cardiac, vascular, and general surgery, subject to certain exclusions. The Company also distributes the CryoLife-O'Brien(R) Stentless Porcine Aortic Bioprosthesis, which is CE marked for distribution within the European Community.

For additional information about the company, visit CryoLife's Web site: http://www.cryolife.com

CryoLife Media Contacts: D. Ashley Lee Katie Brazel Executive Vice President, Fleishman-Hillard Chief Operating Officer and Phone: +1-404-739-0150 Chief Financial Officer CryoLife, Inc. Phone: +1-770-419-3355

Web site: http://www.cryolife.com

D. Ashley Lee, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CryoLife, Inc., +1-770-419-3355; or Katie Brazel of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-404-739-0150