SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 8, 2002


                                 CRYOLIFE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                     Florida
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


            1-13165                                       59-2417093
    (Commission File Number)                   (IRS Employer Identification No.)


              1655 Roberts Boulevard N.W., Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                                 (770) 419-3355
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                        --------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

On April 8, 2002,  CryoLife,  Inc.  ("CryoLife")  dismissed  Arthur Andersen LLP
("Andersen") as its principal  accountant.  The decision to dismiss Andersen was
recommended by the Audit Committee and was approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company. The dismissal will be effective April 9, 2002.

Andersen's reports on the consolidated  financial  statements of the Company for
the past two fiscal years did not contain an adverse  opinion or a disclaimer of
opinion,  nor were such reports  qualified or modified as to uncertainty,  audit
scope,  or accounting  principles.  During the past two fiscal years and through
the date of this Current Report,  there have been no disagreements with Andersen
on any  matter  of  accounting  principles  or  practices,  financial  statement
disclosure,  or  auditing  scope or  procedure,  which,  if not  resolved to the
satisfaction of Andersen,  would have caused it to make reference to the subject
matter in connection  with its reports on the Company's  consolidated  financial
statements for such years,  nor have there been any reportable  events as listed
in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

Andersen  was  provided  with a copy of the  statements  made  in the  foregoing
paragraph and has furnished a letter addressed to the Commission stating that it
agrees with such statements.  A copy of Andersen's  letter is attached hereto as
Exhibit 16.1.

A copy of the  press  release  issued  by the  Company  regarding  dismissal  is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (a) Financial Statements.

         Not applicable.

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

         Not applicable.

     (c) Exhibits.

         Exhibit Number         Description
         --------------         -----------

         16.1                   Letter from Arthur Andersen dated April 10, 2002

         99.1                   Press Release dated April 9, 2002



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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  CryoLife
has duly  caused  this  report  to be signed  on its  behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                           CRYOLIFE, INC.



Date:  April 10, 2002                By:    /s/ Steven G. Anderson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Steven G. Anderson
                                     Title: President, Chief Executive Officer
                                            and Chairman of the Board of
                                            Directors




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT NUMBER     DESCRIPTION                                     PAGE
--------------     -----------                                     ----

16.1               Letter from Arthur Andersen
                   dated April 10, 2002                             5

99.1               Press Release dated April 9, 2002                6



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