EXHIBIT 23.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of  CryoLife,  Inc. of our report dated  February 2, 1999,  included in the 1998
Annual Report to Shareholders of CryoLife, Inc.

Our audits also  included the  financial  statement  schedule of CryoLife,  Inc.
listed in Item 14(a).  This  schedule  is the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our  opinion,  as of  the  date  of our  report  referred  to in  the  preceding
paragraph,  the financial  statement schedule referred to above, when considered
in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,  presents fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration  Statement No.
333-16581  on Form  S-3 and  Registration  Statement  Nos.  33-83996,  33-84048,
333-03513,  333-59853,  333-59849,  333-06141  and 333-34025 on Form S-8, of our
report  dated  February  2, 1999,  with  respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements  incorporated  herein by  reference,  and our report  included in the
preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule included in
this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of CryoLife, Inc.




Atlanta, Georgia
March 26, 1999