CryoLife, Inc. Begins Shipments Of Porcine Pulmonary Heart Valves To Europe

ATLANTA, Sept. 30 -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a leader in human tissue and cell preservation and a manufacturer and distributor of specialty cardiovascular and vascular medical devices and surgical adhesives, announced today that it has made its first shipment of the CryoLife-Ross(TM) porcine pulmonary heart valves to Europe from its laboratories in suburban Atlanta.

On July 1, 1998, CryoLife announced that the CryoLife-Ross heart valve was awarded the European CE (product certification) mark, allowing unrestricted commercial distribution of the valves within the European Community. Both the CryoLife-Ross and the CryoLife-O'Brien(R) aortic stentless porcine heart valves were featured at the 12th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, held in Brussels, Belgium on September 20-23, 1998.

The CryoLife-O'Brien valve was introduced into the European market in 1996, following its award of the CE mark.

Steven G. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, CryoLife, Inc., noted, ``The addition of the CryoLife-Ross pulmonary heart valve to our current European distribution addresses a market segment of extreme need in the European Community. The Ross pulmonary valve is used primarily to reconstruct children's hearts that are not functioning normally.'' ``The Ross valve should save the lives of many children,'' Anderson said.

Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc., is a leader in the development and commercialization of technology for ultra-low temperature preservation (``cryopreservation'') of viable human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular, and orthopaedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive, CE marked in the European Union for use in vascular sealing and repair, is distributed throughout Europe.

Editor's Note: Stentless...heart valve that does not contain a sewing ring to support the valve opening.

Note: Statements made in this release which look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such risks and uncertainties include the impact of the CryoLife-Ross pulmonary heart valve on prolonging the lives of those children in whom it is implanted, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its operating strategy, changes in economic cycles, competition from other companies, changes in laws and governmental regulations applicable to the Company and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Prospectus dated March 30, 1998 contained in its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-46545).

The Company's Internet address: http://www.cryolife.com