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Clinical comparative study between mitral mechanical and bioprosthetic valves--what is the benefit of bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position?

Comparative long-term performance characteristics of mechanical valves and bioprosthetic valves were analyzed retrospectively for patients who had undergone isolated mitral valve replacement from 1967 to 1988. Two hundred ninety-one patients received either mechanical (n = 97) or bioprosthetic (n = 194) valves. The cumulative follow-up was 1,609 patient-years (mean 6.3 +/- 3.8 years, ranging from 0.6 to 20.2 years, 98.9% complete follow-up). The actuarial survival rate, including hospital deaths, at 10 years was 72 +/- 12% for mechanical and 74 +/- 4% for bioprosthetic valve recipients. The rates of freedom from thromboembolism, structural valve failure, prosthetic valve endocarditis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, reoperation, and overall valve-related complications at 10 years were 87 +/- 5%, 100%, 91 +/- 3%, 100%, and 79 +/- 8% for mechanical valve recipients and 85 +/- 3%, 77 +/- 5% (p less than 0.001), 85 +/- 13%, 71 +/- 5% (p less than 0.001), and 52 +/- 5% (p less than 0.001) for bioprosthetic valve recipients, respectively. Thromboembolism occurred at a similar incidence in two types of valves (2.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.4%/pt-yr). Structural valve failure, reoperations, and overall valve-related events occurred more frequently in the bioprostheses recipients (0 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.4%/pt-yr; p less than 0.001, 0.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.5%/pt-yr; p less than 0.001, 2.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.7%/pt-yr; p less than 0.005, respectively). There was no mortality at the time of redo-operation. These results show that bioprostheses in the mitral position exhibit small benefits of antithrombogenesis and prominent disadvantage of poor durability requiring reoperation.

Bioprosthesis↗

Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, there has been an increase in case of repeated open-heart valve surgery and the clinical results of the second surgery are only slightly worse than those of the first surgery. However, clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are rarely reported. Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are discussed in this study. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2004, 16 patients underwent third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position under cardiopulmonary bypass. The average age of the 16 patients, 12 females and 4 males, was 56 +/- 15 years. Clinical features of the 16 cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Mechanical valve nonstructural dysfunction was the most common valve malady, followed by bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The duration of surgery from skin incision to establishment of the cardiopulmonary bypass was 94 +/- 42 minutes. Myocardial ischemia time was 137 +/- 38 minutes and extracorporeal circulation time was 212 +/- 82 minutes. Early mortality was seen in 1 patient (6.25%) and late mortality was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Mechanical valve nonstructural valve dysfunction leads to repeated valve surgery. The clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position are acceptable, and the mid-term survival is excellent.

Adult↗

Could activated tissue remodeling be considered as early marker for progressive valve degeneration? Comparative analysis of checkpoint and ECM remodeling gene expression in native degenerating aortic valves and after bioprosthetic replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic stenosis is the leading cause of heart valve disease in elderly. Little is known about molecular mechanisms leading to altered left ventricular geometry generally and, particularly, to remodeling of degenerating aortic valve. Alterations in native degenerating aortic valves and valvular tissue after replacement might result from a stage specific tissue remodeling protein core induced by stress responsible factors. Here we were looking for a possible stage specificity of tissue remodeling and stress responsive checkpoint gene activation in native degenerating human aortic valves and bioprosthetic valvular tissue after replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens of native degenerating aortic valves as well as bioprosthetic valves after replacement were tested for their morphological properties. Native degenerating valves were selected for two groups: non-calcified (7 samples) and calcified (5 samples) one; the third group (5 samples) was consisting of bioprosthetic valve samples after replacement. Individual mRNA-pools were isolated from each tissue sample, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed. Target transcripts of p21(waf1/cip1), MT1-MMP, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured. The specificity was controlled by restriction analysis of PCR products. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: According to the abundant expression of p21(waf1/cip1), a highly activated stress response was found in non-calcified native degenerating aortic valves, whereas no stress response was monitored in valvular tissue after replacement. Whereas MT1-MMP expression was almost equally induced in all three groups investigated, MMP-9 was higher expressed in non-calcified versus calcified native valves, and was not expressed after replacement. An induced expression of MMP-2 was detected in non-calcified native degenerating aortic valves only. An abundant expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases TIMP-1 was observed in all three groups tested. Apparently, the ECM degradation potential is specifically enhanced in non-calcified native degenerating aortic valves e.g. at the early degeneration stages. In contrast, the replaced valves were found to be actively resorbing tissue with no detectable stress response, where both MT1-MMP and TIMP-1 might play the key role in geometry remodeling.

Aged↗

Mitral valvuloplasty, a better alternative. Comparative study between valve reconstruction and replacement for rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Valvuloplasty is now a well accepted alternative method of surgical treatment of mitral valve disease. To analyse its relative performance in rheumatic valvulopathies, three groups of patients who had mitral valvuloplasty (1980-1984; 241 patients) or mitral valve replacement with mechanical (1980-1984; 386 patients) or biological prostheses (1976-1980; 289 patients) were reviewed. The early mortality was 3.3% for valvuloplasty, 7.8% for mechanical valve replacement and 6.6% for bioprostheses (P less than 0.05). Late mortality occurred at the rate of 2.6% per patient year (15 patients) for valvuloplasty, 5.7% per patient year (70 patients) for mechanical valves and 7.4% per patient year (41 patients) for bioprostheses (P less than 0.01), but valve-related mortality was 1.0% per patient year, 2.5% per patient year and 4.2% per patient year, respectively (P less than 0.01). Reoperation was more frequent after valve replacement with bioprostheses (6.7% per patient year) than after valvuloplasty (4.3% per patient year) and after mechanical valve replacement (1.5% per patient year; P less than 0.02), and was necessitated mainly by residual or recurrent valve dysfunction after valvuloplasty, bland or infected periprosthetic leaks in mechanical valves and degradation of bioprostheses. Valve failure occurred at the rate of 6.1% per patient year for valvuloplasty, 5.7% per patient year for mechanical valves and 11.1% per patient year for bioprostheses (P less than 0.05). In actuarial terms, global survival and survival free from valve related complications were 90% +/- 4% and 70% +/- 6% for patients who had valvuloplasty, 76% +/- 3% and 71% +/- 5% for the mechanical prosthetic replacement group and 62% +/- 7% and 30% +/- 7% for bioprosthetic valve replacement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Prognosis after aortic valve replacement with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve: use of microsimulation.

BACKGROUND: The second-generation Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve (Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, CA) is widely used for aortic valve replacement. However, knowledge on the long-term outcomes of patients after valve implantation is incomplete. We used microsimulation to calculate the long-term outcome of any given patient after aortic valve replacement with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve. METHODS: A meta-analysis of 8 reports on aortic valve replacement with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve (2,685 patients; 12,250 patient years) was used to estimate the hazards of valve-related events other than structural valvular deterioration. Structural valvular deterioration was described by age-dependent Weibull curves calculated from 18-year follow-up, premarket approval, Carpentier-Edwards pericardial primary data. These estimates provided the input data for the parameters of the microsimulation model, which was then used to calculate the outcomes of patients of different ages after valve implantation. The model estimates of survival were validated using two external data sets. RESULTS: The Weibull analysis estimated a median time to reoperation for structural valvular deterioration ranging from 18.1 years for a 55-year-old male to 23.2 years for a 75-year-old male. For a 65-year-old male, microsimulation calculated a life expectancy and event-free life expectancy of 10.8 and 9.1 years, respectively. The lifetime risk of at least one valve-related event was 38% and that of reoperation due to structural valvular deterioration 17%, respectively, for this patient. The model estimates of survival showed good agreement with external data. CONCLUSIONS: Microsimulation provides detailed insight into the long-term prognosis of patients after aortic valve replacement. The Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve performs satisfactorily and offers a low lifetime risk of reoperation due to structural valvular deterioration, especially for elderly patients requiring aortic valve replacement.

Adult↗

Double-crowned valved stents for off-pump mitral valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: An animal model has been designed to assess the feasibility of off-pump mitral valve replacement using valved stents. METHODS: Glutaraldehyde-preserved homograft was sutured inside a prosthetic tube (Dacron). Then, two self-expandable nitinol Z-stents were sutured on the external surface of the prosthesis in such a way to create two self-expanding crowns for fixation. In adult pigs and under general anesthesia, the left atrium was exposed through a left thoracotomy and atrio-ventricular roadmapping was performed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fluoroscopy. The double-crowned valved stents were loaded into a delivery sheath. The sheath was then introduced into the left atrium and the valved stents was deployed in mitral position in such a way that the part in between the two stents was at the level of the mitral annulus. Intracardiac Unltrasound (ICUS) was used to assess the valve function. Hemodynamic parameters were gathered as well. Animal survived for no more than 3h after the valve deployment and gross anatomy examination of the left heart was carried out. RESULTS: The mean height of the valved stents was 29.4+/-0.2 mm, with an internal diameter of 20.4+/-1.0mm, and an external diameter of 25.5+/-0.8 mm. The procedure was successfully carried out in eight animals. In vivo evaluation showed a native mitral annulus diameter of 24.9+/-0.6 mm, and a mean mitral valve area of 421.4+/-17.5 mm2. ICUS showed a mild mitral regurgitation in three out of eight animals. Mean pressure gradient across the valved stents was 2.6+/-3.1 mmHg. Mean pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was 6.6+/-5.2 mmHg. The mean survival time was 97.5+/-56.3 min (survival time range was 40-180 min). One animal died due to the occlusion of the LVOT because of valved stents displacement. Postmortem evaluation confirmed correct positioning of the valved stent in the mitral position in seven out of eight animals. No atrial or ventricular lesions due to the valved stents were found. CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump implantation of a self-expandable valved stent in the mitral position is technically feasible. Further studies will assess if this procedure is also feasible in humans.

Animals↗

Is repair of aortic valve regurgitation a safe alternative to valve replacement?

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcome of valve repair in patients with aortic valve regurgitation with emphasis on incidence and risk of reoperation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 160 consecutive patients (127 men) who underwent aortic valve repair between 1986 and 2001. Ages ranged from 14 to 84 years (mean 55 +/- 17 years). Patients were categorized according to the main etiology of valve disease; 63 patients (39%) had annular dilation leading to central leakage, 54 (34%) had bicuspid valve, 34 (21%) with tricuspid valve had cusp prolapse, and 9 (6%) had cusp perforation. Repair methods included commissural plication (n = 154, 96%), partial cusp resection with plication (n = 47, 29%), resuspension or cusp shortening (n = 44, 28%), and closure of cusp perforation (n = 10, 6%). RESULTS: There was 1 early death (0.6%). Two patients required re-repair of the aortic valve during initial hospitalization. During a mean follow-up of 4.2 years, there were 16 late deaths. Overall, 16 of 159 hospital survivors had late reoperation on the aortic valve (mean interval 2.8 years) without early mortality. Risks of reoperation on the aortic valve were 9%, 11%, and 15% at 3, 5, and 7 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic valve repair can be performed with low risk and excellent freedom from valve-related morbidity and mortality. Late recurrence of aortic valve regurgitation led to reoperation in 8.8% of patients, but mortality associated with subsequent procedures is low. Aortic valve repair appears to be a good option for selected patients, particularly young patients who wish to avoid chronic anticoagulation with warfarin.

Adolescent↗

Valve replacement in patients on chronic renal dialysis: implications for valve prosthesis selection.

BACKGROUND: Reports are sparse describing heart valve replacement in patients with end-stage renal disease. This review assesses a 15-year experience and outcomes after valve replacement in patients on chronic preoperative renal dialysis. METHODS: A computerized database, hospital records, and telephone contact provided outcome data for patients on chronic dialysis undergoing valve replacement between March 22, 1985, and October 13, 2000, in two hospitals. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients underwent 95 valve procedures (74 operations). Ages ranged from 23 years to 84 years (mean, 57 years). Fifty-five aortic, 30 mitral, and 3 tricuspid valve replacements and 7 valvuloplasties were performed. Six of the 74 procedures were reoperative valve replacements. In the 46 patients with reliable long-term (greater than 30 days) follow-up data, significant bleeding or stroke was documented in 17 of 34 patients with a mechanical valve and 1 of 12 patients with a bioprosthetic valve. Overall survival (including two operative deaths) was 72.8% at 3 months, 65.4% at 6 months, 60.5% at 1 year, 39.8% at 2 years, 28.5% at 3 years, and 15.9% at 6 years (Kaplan-Meier). Type of valve implanted did not influence early and late survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of patients on chronic dialysis, survival appears to justify valve replacement. However, the sixfold higher incidence of late bleeding or stroke in patients on dialysis with a mechanical valve requiring warfarin suggests that bioprosthetic valves are the valve substitute of choice in patients on chronic dialysis.

Adult↗

Impact of size mismatch and left ventricular function on performance of the St. Jude disc valve after aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic function of the St. Jude valve may change relative to changes in left ventricular function after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. From theoretical reasons one may hypothesize that prosthetic valve hemodynamic function is related to left ventricular failure and mismatch between valve size and patient/ventricular chamber size. METHODS: Forty patients aged 24 to 82 years who survived aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis with a standard St. Jude disc valve (mean size, 23.5 mm; range, 19 to 29 mm) were followed up prospectively with Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide left ventriculography preoperatively and 9 days, 3 months, and 18 months after the operation with assessment of intravascular hemolysis at 18 months. Follow-up to a maximum of 7.4 years (mean, 6.3 years) was 100% complete. RESULTS: Left ventricular muscle mass index decreased from 198 +/- 62 g.m-2 preoperatively to 153 +/- 53 g.m-2 at 18 months (p < 0.001), paralleled by a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, and peak filling rate; only 18% of the patients had normal left ventricular muscle mass index and only 32% normal ventricular function (normal left ventricular ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, peak filling rate, early filling fraction, and late filling fraction during atrial contraction) at 18 months. Prosthetic valve peak Doppler gradient dropped from 20 +/- 6 mm Hg at 9 days to 17 +/- 5 mm Hg at 18 months (p < 0.05). Reduction of left ventricular muscle mass index was unrelated to peak gradient and size of the valve. Peak gradient at 18 months rose with valve orifice diameter of 17 mm or less (by 6 mm Hg), orifice diameter/body surface area of 9 mm.m-2 or less (by 5 mm Hg), left ventricular enddiastolic dimension (by 23 mm Hg per 10 mm increase), and impaired ventricular function (by 3 mm Hg). All but 2 patients (5%) had intravascular hemolysis; none had anemia. Two patients with moderate paravalvular leak had the highest serum lactic dehydrogenase levels; 4 patients with trivial leak had higher serum lactic dehydrogenase levels than those without leak. Serum lactic dehydrogenase levels rose with moderate paravalvular leak, impaired ventricular function, and valve orifice diameter. Six patients with trivial or moderate paravalvular leak had a cumulative 7-year freedom from bleeding and thromboembolism of 44% +/- 22% compared with 87% +/- 5% for those without leak (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The peak gradient of the St. Jude aortic valve dropped marginally over the first 18 postoperative months in association with incomplete left ventricular hypertrophy regression and marginal improvement of ventricular function. Mismatch between valve size and ventricular cavity size or patient size and impaired function of a dilated ventricle significantly compromised the performance of the St. Jude valve. Probably explained by platelet destruction or activation, paravalvular leak was related to bleeding and thromboembolic complications.

Adult↗

Advantage of autograft and homograft valve replacement for complex aortic valve endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: There are advantages to using homografts and autografts as aortic valve replacements, particularly in patients with infective endocarditis. To better define these advantages, we reviewed our 13-year experience with the surgical management of infective endocarditis involving the aortic valve and root. METHODS: From 1986 through 1998, 81 adults with aortic valve endocarditis underwent valve replacement (AVR). The mean age of the 65 men and 16 women was 44 +/- 14 years. Sixty-three (78%) patients had active endocarditis at the time of operation. Non-native valve endocarditis was present in 29 (36%) patients, in 9 of whom the infection was a recurrence. Aortic valve replacements were performed with 46 homografts (homo-AVR), 25 autografts (Ross-AVR), and 10 prosthetic valves (prosth-AVR). Among Ross-AVR and homo-AVR patients, 11 required mitral valve replacement or repair (homo-Ross DVR). Follow-up was 90% complete within 2 years of the end of the study with a mean of 3.7 +/- 3.4 years. RESULTS: Early mortality was 16% (13 of 81 patients). This was 12% (3 of 25 patients) for Ross-AVR, 17% (8 of 46 patients) for homo-AVR, and 20% (2 of 10 patients) for prosth-AVR. Overall late mortality was 10% (7 of 68 patients) with a valve-related late mortality of 7% (5 of 68 patients). Actuarial survival at 5 years was 88% +/- 9% in Ross-AVR, 69% +/- 11% in homo-AVR, and 29% +/- 22% in prosth-AVR (p = 0.03). Endocarditis recurred in 12.5% (1 of 8 patients) with prosth-AVR and 3% (2 of 60 patients) in homo-Ross AVR. CONCLUSIONS: Valve replacement in the presence of native and prosthetic endocarditis remains a formidable challenge. Autografts and homografts are the preferred replacement aortic valves for these patients even if concomitant mitral valve replacement is required, and risk of valve-related death or recurrent endocarditis is low at medium-term follow-up.

Adult↗

Mitral valve reconstruction and mitral valve replacement for ischemic mitral insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ischemic mitral incompetence have a high operative risk whether the valve is repaired or replaced. The advantage of repair over replacement is unclear in this group of patients. METHODS: Between April 1986 and December 1994, 232 patients underwent surgery for ischemic mitral valve insufficiency; mitral valve replacement was performed in 98 of them. Operative mortality was 13.3%. The actuarial survival rate after 5 years was 73.3%. The surgical risk in patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 10%-30% (operative mortality 50.0%) was higher than in those whose LVEF was greater than 30%. Valve reconstruction was performed in 102 patients. Operative mortality in this patient group was 14.7%. The surgical risk in patients whose LVEF was < or = 30% was higher (operative mortality 42.9%). RESULTS: The total actuarial survival rate of all patients was 64.4% after 5 years. Mortality during follow-up was higher in patients with residual mitral valve insufficiency greater than grade I after mitral valve reconstruction. Twenty-four patients with severely impaired left ventricular function underwent heart transplantation. Operative mortality in this group was 12.5%. Eight patients received left ventricular aneurysmectomy in addition to valve surgery, three of them died early. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients with highly impaired left ventricular function and ischemic mitral insufficiency are at too great a risk for either valve reconstruction or replacement. Cardiac transplantation should be considered for this patient group. However, patients with ischemic mitral insufficiency and moderately impaired left ventricular function can undergo valve reconstruction or replacement with an acceptable prognosis. The goal of mitral valve reconstruction should be reducing mitral valve insufficiency to at least grade I. If this is not achieved, the prognosis after repair is worse than after valve replacement, therefore, the surgeon should replace the valve without delay.

Aged↗

Mitral valve replacement with ball valve prostheses.

Our experience with ball valve replacement of the mitral valve during the past decade is presented in terms that allow comparison with other techniques. The use of such prostheses is characterized by ease of implantation, with an overall operative mortality of 11 per cent for isolated mitral replacement and 13 per cent for multiple valve replacement. The operative mortality for isolated mitral valve replacement during 1969 and thus far in 1970 has been nil. The late mortality was 13 per cent for isolated mitral replacement and 20 per cent for multiple valve replacement. Forty-three per cent of the total late deaths were clearly unrelated to the prosthetic device itself. The overall incidence of late infection and leak is less than 1 per cent and the immediate haemodynamic benefit is not altered by loss of structural integrity of the prosthesis. The most serious problem after mitral valve replacement with the ball valve prosthesis is that of thromboembolic complications. While thrombotic stenosis of the prosthesis is a rarity, embolic episodes, usually cerebral in type, have been noted in 63 per cent of the patients surviving mitral valve replacement with the earliest model ball valve from August 1960 to February 1966. Improvements in valve design have resulted in a remarkable decrease in this incidence as examined by actuarial techniques and taking into account the duration of follow-up. The extension of the cloth sewing margins to the orifice of the valve while maintaining a metallic orifice and metallic cage (Model 6120) resulted in a drop of the thromboembolic rate to 17 per cent from April 1965 to April 1969. The development of the totally cloth-covered prosthesis has further improved these results, with only one thromboembolic complication after isolated mitral valve replacement with the Model 6310 valve in a series of 66 consecutive patients. In clinical practice this has resulted in the avoidance of the use of anticoagulant therapy in patients in whom for a variety of reasons this carries an increased hazard. With further follow-up it may be possible to discontinue the routine use of anticoagulants.

Adolescent↗

Clinical evaluation of ATS prosthetic valve by doppler echocardiography: comparison with St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve.

ATS valve is a bileaflet valve developed to have a superior function to traditional prosthetic valves on anti-thrombogenesis and hemolysis. The orifice area was enlarged in consequence of making its orifice with pyrolytic carbon materials, and the pivot was open pivot and the strut was eliminated. The efficiency of this valve has been reported in the Europe. In Japan, its clinical trial was performed in September 1993 and its clinical use was permitted in August 1996. In this study, we compared the functions of ATS and St. Jude Medical (SJM) valves with echocardiography. The pressure gradients at the mitral valve position were not significantly different between ATS and SJM valves, but that of ATS was lower than that of SJM. The pressure gradient at the aortic valve position of ATS was also lower than that of SJM, and especially those of the patients who performed aortic valve replacement with 23-mm ATS and SJM valves were 8.9+/-1.6 and 23.3+/-6.6 mmHg, showing a significant difference. Though further observation and review of this valve are needed at the chronic phase, ATS valve is an excellent bileaflet valve on the valvular function, showing a low pressure gradient.

Aged↗

[A case of thrombosed St. Jude Medical valve 16 years after initial mitral valve replacement].

We report successful surgery for a thrombosed St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve 16 years after the initial mitral valve replacement even under conditions of satisfactory anticoagulation therapy. A 61-year-old-female had intermittent claudication and was admitted to our hospital for examination. The prosthetic valve sounds were normal to auscultation and the left ankle-pressure index was decreased to 0.6. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed no mitral regurgitation and a mean mitral valve gradient of 6-7 mmHg. Furthermore, transesophageal echocardiography revealed that one of the leaflets of the prosthetic valve was entirely immobilized at the closing position and a mobile soft tissue mass, 5 mm in diameter, was detected at the atrial side of the obstructed leaflet. Although 96,0000 IU of urokinase was administered intravenously for a week, we could not confirm any change in leaflet mobility. At the time of surgery, the posterior leaflet of the SJM valve, which was implanted at an anatomical orientation, was obstructed at the closing position with old and fresh thrombi. We decided upon replacement with a CarboMedics 29 M prosthetic valve. Postoperative medication consisted of warfarin plus low-dose aspirin. Generally, valve thrombosis occurs within 5 years after valve replacement. However, valve thrombosis is possible even in a reliable SJM valve and as long as 16 years after replacement. Therefore, the implantation of an SJM valve at an anti-anatomical orientation might lower the incidence of valve thrombosis in addition to life-long anticoagulation therapy.

Female↗

[Clinical assessment of prosthetic valve replacement of the right-sided cardiac valves: mechanical or bioprosthesis?].

Clinical results with mechanical and bioprosthetic valve replacements for tricuspid and/or pulmonary positions were reviewed. Between February 1975 and December 1985, 34 bioprostheses (B) (22 Hancock, 9 Ionescu-Shiley and 3 Carpentier-Edwards pericardial) and 18 mechanical prostheses (M) (St. Jude Medical) were implanted in our institute excluding hospital death. Group with B included 29 tricuspid valve replacements and 5 pulmonary valve replacements. Group with M included 9 tricuspid valve replacements, 7 pulmonary valve replacements and 1 both valve replacements. The cumulative follow-up period was 207.2 patient-years (p-t) in group B and 55.0 p-y in group M. The incidence of valve failure was 0.48 +/- 0.48% per p-y in group B and 7.27 +/- 3.64% per p-y in group M (p less than 0.001). The incidence of valve-related events was 1.93 +/- 0.97% per p-y in group B and 9.09 +/- 4.07% per p-y in group M (p less than 0.001). At 3 years, the percent free of valve failure was 100 +/- 0% in group B and 76.8 +/- 10.2% in group M (p less than 0.05). Fourteen bioprosthetic valves (B') and 10 mechanical valves (M') were implanted at the right-sided cardiac valve position alone. The cumulative follow-up period was 94.2 p-y in group B' and 32.3 p-y in group M'. The incidence of valve-related events was 1.06 +/- 1.06% per p-y in group B' and 12.4 +/- 6.19% per p-y in group M' (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Early and late risk of mitral valve replacement. A 12 year concomitant comparison of the porcine bioprosthetic and prosthetic disc mitral valves.

A consecutive series of 706 mitral valve replacements was performed from January, 1972, to January, 1984. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 150 months with a mean of 50 and a median of 43 months. Seven percent (50) of the patient were lost to follow-up. There were 243 men and 463 women, whose ages ranged from 17 to 86 years (mean 58). A porcine bioprosthetic valve was implanted in 528 patients (514 Hancock and 14 Carpentier-Edwards valves) and a prosthetic disc valve in 178 patients (102 standard disc Björk-Shiley, 34 Beall, and 42 Harken disc valves). Seven patients were in Functional Class II, 325 in Class III, and 374 in Class IV. A concomitant operative procedure was performed in 253 of the 706 patients (36%). Mitral regurgitation was the primary hemodynamic lesion in 363 and mitral stenosis in 343. Operative mortality figures were as follows: 77 of 706 (11%) for the overall group, 34 of 453 (7.5%) for isolated mitral valve replacement, 30 of 169 (17.5%, p = 0.001) for mitral replacement plus coronary bypass, 49 of 528 (9%) for the bioprosthetic valve group, and 28 of 178 (16%) for the prosthetic disc valve group (p = 0.01). After the operation, 262 patients were in Functional Class I, 99 in Class II, and 18 in Class III. The long-term survival rate was significantly lower in patients who had an associated procedure (45% +/- 6%), who had mitral regurgitation rather than mitral stenosis (53% +/- 5% versus 67% +/- 4%) (p = 0.002), who were in Functional Class IV rather than Classes I to III (51% +/- 4% versus 70% +/- 4%) (p = 0.001), and who received a prosthetic disc valve rather than a bioprosthesis (40% +/- 6% versus 67% +/- 4%) (p = 0.001). Thromboembolic rates were significantly higher with prosthetic valves than with bioprosthetic valves (4.6% +/- 0.22% versus 2.4% +/- 0.5% per patient-year of follow-up), and the incidence of anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was significantly higher in the prosthetic valve group (1.65% versus 0.43% per patient-year). Primary valve dysfunction was significantly more common in the bioprostheses (1.23% versus 0.40% per patient-year).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Severe mitral or aortic valve regurgitation, or both, requiring valve replacement for infective endocarditis complicating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Certain clinical and morphologic findings are described in 11 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complicated by infective endocarditis that produced severe mitral or aortic valve regurgitation, or both, necessitating valve replacement. All 11 patients had changes in the operatively excised valve or valves characteristic of healed infective endocarditis. The infection involved only the mitral valve in seven patients, only the aortic valve in three patients and both valves in one patient. Study of the operatively excised mitral valves indicated that the healed vegetations were located most commonly on the left ventricular aspects of the anterior mitral leaflet, indicating that vegetation had formed at contact points of this leaflet with mural endocardium of the left ventricular outflow tract. In all 11 patients, the infective endocarditis either worsened preexisting valve regurgitation or initiated valve regurgitation and led to worsened signs and symptoms of cardiac dysfunction, necessitating valve replacement. Functional class improved in the nine patients who survived 7 to 101 months after valve replacement. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appears to be a factor predisposing to infective endocarditis. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should receive prophylactic antibiotic therapy during procedures that predispose to infective endocarditis.

Adult↗

Comparison of programmable shunt valves vs standard valves for communicating hydrocephalus of adults: a retrospective analysis of 407 patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to clarify whether programmable shunt valves are advantageous in the treatment of adults with communicating hydrocephalus with respect to valve-related shunt complications and surgical shunt revisions, in comparison with standard valves. METHODS: Adult patients with communicating hydrocephalus treated with Codman Hakim programmable (CHP) valves or Hakim (H) standard valves during 12 years were retrospectively studied. Patients were analyzed for demographic data, implantation diagnosis, valve type, opening pressure at implantation, opening pressure adjustments, and incidence of shunt complications, especially valve-related complications. The end point of the study was a surgical shunt revision. RESULTS: In 407 patients, 247 CHP valves and 160 H valves were implanted. Median opening pressure of CHP at implantation was 110 mm H(2)O, while 3 low-pressure, 153 medium-pressure, and 4 high-pressure H valves were implanted. Opening pressure adjustments were performed in 39% of CHP patients--1.44 adjustments per adjusted valve. Overall complication rate as well as the rate of surgical revisions for infections and catheter- and valve-related problems did not show any significant difference between CHP and H valves. The incidence of nontraumatic subdural hematomas and hygromas was significantly higher in the CHP group; however, the rate of surgical decompressions did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of reprogramming of CHP did not translate into a reduction in surgical shunt revisions. Therefore, in conjunction with the present data, we believe it is still justified to implant H standard valves in adult patients with communicating hydrocephalus.

Adult↗