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At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Mid term outcome and quality of life after aortic valve replacement in elderly people: mechanical versus stentless biological valves.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefit for patients older than 65 years of aortic valve replacement with stentless biological heart valves in comparison with mechanical valves. DESIGN: Multiple regression analysis of a retrospective follow up study. SETTING: Single cardiothoracic centre. PATIENTS: Between 1996 and 2001, 392 patients with a mean age of 74 years underwent aortic valve replacement with stentless Freestyle bioprostheses or mechanical St Jude Medical prostheses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Operative mortality and morbidity, postoperative morbid events, mid term survival, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improvement, and quality of life. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between patients receiving stentless biological valves and patients receiving mechanical prostheses. However, analysis of subgroups showed that patients older than 75 years with mechanical valves had an increased risk of major bleeding events (p = 0.007). Patients requiring anticoagulation by means of coumarin had a twofold increased risk of an impaired emotional reaction (p = 0.052). However, for patients who received a mechanical valve for severe combined aortic valve disease a survival advantage (p = 0.045) and a decreased risk of prolonged ventilation (p = 0.001) was observed. On the other hand, patients receiving a stentless bioprosthesis had an increased risk of a prolonged stay in intensive care (p = 0.04) and stroke (p = 0.01) if they had severely reduced cardiac function (NYHA class IV). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people receiving stentless bioprostheses benefit emotionally because of the avoidance of coumarin. However, in patients with severe hypertrophied ventricles and extraordinary calcifications, stentless bioprostheses should be chosen with caution.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Long-term results after aortic valve replacement with the Mitroflow pericardial valve.

From September, 1986 through December, 1989, 121 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with the Mitroflow pericardial valve. There were 70 males (58%) and 51 females (42%), with an average age of 71 years (range 50-85 years). Reported here are the long-term results from these patients. Concomitant cardiac procedures were performed in addition to aortic valve replacement in 38 patients (31%); Coronary artery revascularization in 27 patients (22%); 4 patients (3%) had combination aortic/mitral valve replacement; mitral valve reconstruction in 4 patients (3%) and 3 patients (2%) had other additional procedures. Following surgery, standard postoperative examinations were performed every six month for 2 years; then yearly thereafter. At these times valvular function assessed echocardiographically. Current follow-up extends to 7 years (mean = 5 years) for surviving patients. Postoperative mortality for all observation period is as follows: Early deaths (> or =30 days postop) = 6 patients (5%), late death (>30 days) = 18 patients (15%). Valve-related causes of death included cerebral insult (thromboembolism) in two patients (one 10 months, other 15 months postoperatively). Postoperative valve-related morbidity included prosthetic endocarditis (1 patient) one year postoperatively; degenerative prosthetic failure (1 patient) 27 months postop; cusp tear (1 patient) with minimal hemodynamic changes after four years. In the patients with endocarditis and failure, a second successful operation corrected the problem. Also, in two patients antithrombolitic therapy related hemor-rhage occurred (one 9 months, the second 11 months postoperatively). This therapy was a result of atrial fibrillation, and we do not recommended it. In conclusion, we find that the Mitroflow pericardial heart valve gives adequate long-term results, especially in elderly patients with a small aortic ring, with very satisfactory quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Clinical experience with Sorin Bicarbon valve in patients with tight mitral valve stenosis and elevated pulmonary hypertension (early and mid-term results).

BACKGROUND: The results of mitral valve replacement (MVR) with Sorin mechanical valves in patients who had tight mitral stenosis with high pulmonary artery pressure were reviewed. METHODS: During a period of two years, from August 1998 to May 2000, a mitral valve replacement with a Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valve was performed in 51 patients with a diagnosis of tight mitral stenosis associated with severe pulmonary hypertension (preoperative mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 72+/-12 mmHg, range from 60 to 105 mmHg). There were 37 women and 14 men; mean age was 47.2+/-12 years. Forty-eight patients (94.12%) were in NYHA functional class III or IV. All the patients discharged from the hospital were submitted to a clinical follow-up program. A 100% follow-up was obtained with a mean of 12.6+/-6.4 months (range 2 to25 months). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 3.9%, 2 patients who had concomitant CABG died due to low cardiac output. Twelve patients (23.5%) needed an inotropic pharmacological support during the postoperative time. In one patient a re-exploration for bleeding was necessary, and in another one a cerebrovascular accident occurred 3 days after the operation. After 6 months, one patient was reoperated on because of mechanical valve dysfunction due to pannus formation. All survivors underwent a postoperative echocardiographic assessment. The systolic PAP decreased from a mean preoperative value of 72+/-12 mmHg to 39.9+/-12 mmHg. NYHA functional status significantly improved and 86% of the patients were in NYHA functional class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: The mitral valve replacement with Bicarbon mechanical valve prosthesis shows excellent results in patients with mitral valve stenosis associated with a severe pulmonary hypertension.

Female↗
PubMed2002

[Myocardial revascularization combined with mitral valve surgery in case of ischemic mitral valve insufficiency].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of mitral valve surgery in patients with mitral valve insufficiency and short time outcomes following mitral valve correction combined with coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Thirty one combined coronary artery bypass grafting with mitral valve correction procedures were performed from 1994 to 2002. Mean age was 65.4+/-6 years. 29 pts were in NYHA IV-V functional class. 84% of pts were with impaired left ventricle function. RESULTS: Mitral valve replacement was performed in 16 patients and correction of mitral valve in 15 cases. Mitral valve replacement was performed in cases with significant lesions of the papillary muscles. The mean of 3.05+/-1.8 graft per patient was performed and total coronary revascularisation for 84% of patients. Hospital mortality was 32.2% (10/31). CONCLUSION: In cases of coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with moderate and significant mitral insufficiency after myocardial infarction, mitral valve correction must be performed.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Thrombogenicity and reoperation of the St. Jude Medical Silzone valve: a comparison with the conventional St. Jude Medical valve.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The St. Jude Medical Silzone valve was withdrawn from the market after an interim analysis of the AVERT study revealed a 2.76% incidence of paravalvar leakage leading to valve re-replacement, compared with only 1.02% in the control group. Additionally, an increased risk for thromboembolic complications was reported in different series of patients. METHODS: To monitor the consistency of these reports, the incidence of thromboembolic complications and paravalvar leakage was investigated in 113 patients who received a Silzone valve at the authors' institution, compared with 101 patients who, immediately prior to the Silzone group, received a conventional valve. RESULTS: No difference was found in the incidence of either thromboembolism or paravalvar leakage after either Silzone or conventional valve replacement. CONCLUSION: Differences between the AVERT study and the present study might reflect differences in operative technique or in patient groups, but this as yet is unknown. To clarify the prospects of the estimated 36,000 patients with Silzone valves world wide, further research should aim at identifying possible unique features of patient groups with a higher risk of paravalvar leakage leading to valve explantation. In brief, an increased rate of paravalvar leakage and/or thromboembolism does not apply to either valve replacement groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Valve opening and closing dynamics after different aortic valve-sparing operations.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Aortic valve resuspension for ascending aortic aneurysm repair is associated with removal of the sinus of Valsalva. This may cause changes in leaflet motion and thus impact on long-term durability. The opening and closing characteristics of the aortic valve leaflets after reimplantation were studied using a published technique and a modification to create a 'neosinus', and the results compared to those of an age-matched control group. METHODS: Between September 1995 and March 2002, 25 patients underwent normal aortic root reconstruction (group A), while in a further 21 patients the modified neosinus technique was used (group B). In both groups, the native valve was preserved and suspended inside a tubular prosthesis, with reimplantation of the coronary arteries. Transthoracic and transesophageal studies of aortic valve dynamics were performed intraoperatively, before hospital discharge, and at one year after surgery in all patients; the data were compared with those from a separate group of 25 matched control individuals (group C). RESULTS: The valve opening velocity was 61.3+/-20.1, 46.3+/-8 and 29.2+/-9.8 cm/s in groups A, B and C, respectively (group A versus B, p = 0.003; A versus C, p <0.0001; B versus C, p <0.0001). Closing velocity was increased to 57.5+/-23 and 43.8+/-7 cm/s in groups A and B, compared to 23.6+/-7 cm/s in group C (A versus B, p = 0.012; A versus C, p <0.0001; B versus C, p = 0.0002). In seven group A patients, the leaflets touched the prosthetic wall during systole. Slow systolic closing displacement (SCD) amounted to 7.3+/-6 % of maximal opening in group A and 12.6+/-5 % in group B (p = 0.05), compared to 21.1+/-8.3% in group C (group A versus group C, p <0.0001; B versus C, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Reimplantation of the natural aortic valve in a prosthetic graft causes abnormally high opening and closing speeds, with possibly increased stress. The study results showed lower valve opening and closure dynamics after the creation of a sinus bulge compared to the conventional reimplantation technique. However, mid-term clinical observations showed favorable valve competence for both types of repair. Further long-term follow up is necessary to prove whether more physiological leaflet dynamics lead to improved durability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Five year follow-up after valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical valve in infants and children.

Since 1979, 34 infants and children, 3 weeks to 17 years of age, have undergone cardiac valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical (SJM) prosthesis at our institution. Seventeen children underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR), 16 aortic valve replacement (AVR), and one pulmonary valve replacement. Three hospital deaths were associated with MVR and complex congenital heart disease. All surviving patients were functional in class I. A cumulative 89.1 patient-years of follow-up were analyzed to evaluate valve-related mortality and morbidity. Late complications included thromboembolus (one patient), anticoagulant-related hemorrhage (one patient), and perivalvular leak (one patient). One of six late deaths resulted from mitral valve thrombosis. Actuarial 5 year survival for patients who underwent AVR was 100%, but it was 53% for MVR (p = .03). Freedom from significant morbidity and mortality for up to 5 years after operation was 92 +/- 7% for those who underwent AVR and 45 +/- 16% for those who underwent MVR. Patient-related factors appear to account for an increased rate of complications after MVR. Because of difficulties with achieving anticoagulation with warfarin, aspirin therapy should be used for patients less than 5 years of age, while older patients can be managed with warfarin. The SJM valve is a satisfactory cardiac valve substitute for the pediatric age group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Significance of the bicuspid aortic valve in the incidence of aortic valve defects in adults].

In 388 patients with severe isolated aortic valve disease bicuspid aortic valves were found in 45% of patients with aortic stenosis and 24% of patients with aortic regurgitation. There was a history of rheumatic fever in 16% and of endocarditis in 7% of these patients. In a group of 110 patients with severe combined aortic and mitral valve disease, 50% had a history of rheumatic fever and bicuspid valves were found in only 12% of the cases. Severe aortic valve disease based on bicuspid valves was most frequently found in the age group 50-69 years. Bicuspid aortic valve is today the most frequent cause of isolated aortic valve disease; it is more common in aortic stenosis but also occurs in aortic regurgitation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Bileaflet mechanical valve (St. Jude Medical valve) replacement in long-term dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Few reports exist on the results of bileaflet mechanical valve (St. Jude Medical prosthesis; St. Jude Medical, Inc, St. Paul, MN) replacement in long-term dialysis patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients, ranging in age from 50 to 86, undergoing long-term renal dialysis who had also undergone mechanical valve replacement at our institution. Operative procedures included aortic valve replacement, aortic and mitral valve replacement, aortic valve replacement and mitral annuloplasty, mitral valve replacement, and modified Bentall's operation. There was 1 hospital death (8.3%). During the mean follow-up period of 37.1 months (range: 5-87 months), there were 2 noncardiac late deaths. Bleeding from the esophageal varix and from a duodenal ulcer occurred in 1 patient with end-stage liver cirrhosis. There were no other major cases of bleeding or cerebrovascular accidents. There were no valve-related complications. All the survivors demonstrated excellent clinical improvement under the NYHA functional classification. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated good early and long-term results of mechanical valve replacement in patients undergoing long-term dialysis. These favorable results support the continued use of mechanical valves in dialysis patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of the aortic valve opening. In vivo dynamic measurement of aortic valve orifice area.

Aortic valve orifice area was dynamically measured in anesthetized dogs with a new measuring system involving electromagnetic induction. This system permits us real-time measurement of the valve orifice area in beating hearts in situ. The aortic valve was already open before aortic pressure started to increase without detectable antegrade aortic flow. Maximum opening area was achieved while flow was still accelerating at a mean of 20 to 35 msec before peak blood flow. Maximum opening area was affected by not only aortic blood flow but also aortic pressure, which produced aortic root expansion. The aortic valve orifice area's decreasing curve (corresponding to valve closure) was composed of two phases: the initial decrease and late decrease. The initial decrease in aortic valve orifice area was slower (4.1 cm2/sec) than the late decrease (28.5 cm2/sec). Aortic valve orifice area was reduced from maximum to 40% of maximum (in a triangular open position) during the initial slow closing. These measurements showed that (1) initial slow closure of the aortic valve is evoked by leaflet tension which is produced by the aortic root expansion (the leaflet tension tended to make the shape of the aortic orifice triangular) and (2) late rapid closure is induced by backflow of blood into the sinus of Valsalva. Thus, cusp expansion owing to intraaortic pressure plays an important role in the opening and closing of the aortic valve and aortic blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Reference models for mitral valve tissue engineering based on valve cell phenotype and extracellular matrix analysis.

The advance of mitral valve repair techniques through tissue engineering is impeded by the lack of information regarding the cellular and extracellular components of the mitral valve. The present study aims to expand our understanding of the mitral valve structure by analysing the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Valvular endothelial cells (VECs) and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated from porcine mitral valves. Immunochemical staining of ECM components, including type I, II, III, IV and V collagen, laminin, fibronectin, elastin and chondroitin sulphate (CS), was performed on both mitral valve tissue and cell cultures. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunochemistry were used to analyse NOS expression in native valve and in culture. Both VECs and VICs synthesised the basement membrane components, laminin and type IV collagen both in vivo and in vitro, amongst other fibrous ECM proteins. Synthesis of type I collagen and CS was absent in VEC cultures. Each cell type had a characteristic profile of NOS expression. VECs synthesised endothelial NOS both in vivo and in vitro, with a minority of VICs expressing neuronal NOS in vitro. The present study reports newly recognised aspects of the mitral valve structure and the in vitro behaviour of mitral valve cell populations based on ECM synthesis and NOS expression. The presented profiles can be used as base tools for the generation of data necessary for the selection of ideal cell sources and for the design of appropriate scaffolds for the development of effective tissue-engineered mitral valves.

Actins↗
PubMed2002

Trace element changes in sclerotic heart valves from patients undergoing aortic valve surgery.

Several trace elements are essential nutrients for an optimal functioning of organs and tissues, including the immune system and the heart. The pathogenesis of some heart diseases has been associated with changes in the balance of certain trace elements. The etiology of nonrheumatic aortic valve sclerosis is unknown, however. A prospective study was performed on trace element changes in the sclerotic valves of 46 patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement because of aortic stenosis. Valves from 15 individual forensic cases without known cardiac disease served as controls. The contents of 15 trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Hg, Se, Ag, V, and Zn) were measured by inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of aortic valve tissue from both patients and forensic autopsy controls. Some trace elements showed similar concentrations in sclerotic and control valves (Al, Ag, Hg, Mn), whereas a few were moderately changed in the sclerotic as compared with the control valves, including an increase in Cd by 52% (p < 0.05) and decreases in Se by 14% (p < 0.05), in V by 42% (p < 0,001), and in Cu by 45% (p < 0.001). However, there were pronounced increases (p < 0.001) in the concentrations of As (5-fold), Ca (70-fold), Co(10-fold), Fe (20-fold), Pb (8-fold), Mg (20-fold), and Zn (10-fold) in the sclerotic valves. Thus, sclerotic aortic valve disease is associated with a pronounced imbalance in several trace elements of well-known importance for cardiovascular and immune function as well as in trace elements with hitherto unknown significance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Will stentless valves be durable? The Toronto valve (TSPV) at 5 to 6 years.

The early hemodynamic benefits of stentless aortic valves have been well documented. The issue of long-term functional integrity remains unanswered. We report the clinical results of a multicenter registry with prospective data on 621 patients monitored for 7.1 years. Patient data were collected and analyzed at St Jude Medical Inc, St Paul, Minnesota. In all, 66% of patients were male; the average age was 65.9 years +/-11.0 years, with 39% older than 70 years. Native aortic valves were bicuspid in 40.6%, 91.5% were calcified and 65.7% stenotic. Most valves implanted (83.1%) were sizes 25, 27, or 29 mm. Concomitant coronary bypass was performed in 42% of patients. Total follow-up time for the 621 patients was 1,944.5 valve years (mean 3.1 years per patient). At 5 years, 86.1% (n = 137) and at 6 years 80.4% (n = 51) were in New York Heart Association class I, and 78% had no or trivial atrial insufficiency. The average mean systolic gradient for all valves at 6 years was 4.0 mm Hg, and the peak gradient was 8.6 mm Hg. The effective orifice area varied from 1.4 cm2 (23-mm valve) to 2.7 cm2 (29-mm valve). The decrease in left ventricular mass index was significant and sustained. Actuarial survival at 6 years was 84.2%, and freedom from cardiac-related deaths was 90.1%. Freedom from valve-related deaths was 95.7%, and freedom from prosthetic endocarditis was 98.6%. There were no instances of primary tissue valve failure during follow-up, with 97.2% freedom from reoperation. The early hemodynamic benefits of the TSPV are well maintained during more than 6 years of follow-up, without evident valvular dysfunction. Longer follow-up time is required to validate durability, but there is increasing evidence for well-maintained structural and functional integrity.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed2005

Contribution of selected serum inflammatory mediators to the progression of chronic rheumatic valve disease, subsequent valve calcification and NYHA functional class.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The mechanism of the underlying principle of the progression of chronic rheumatic valve disease (RVD) and subsequent valve calcification are yet not clearly understood. The study aim was to determine whether serum markers of inflammation impact on the severity of chronic RVD, subsequent valve calcification and NYHA functional class. METHODS: The study group comprised 92 patients (27 males, 65 females; mean age 40 +/- 14 years) with RVD; the control group included 50 age- and gender-matched subjects without echocardiographic signs of RVD. All patients underwent echocardiographic of rheumatic valve severity, valve calcification and NYHA functional class. Levels of cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)) and serum inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)) were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-2R, TNF-alpha and hs-CRP were significantly higher in patients with RVD than in controls (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were identified between mitral score and fibrinogen (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.007), TNF-alpha (p < 0.001) and hs-CRP levels (p < 0.001). Fibrinogen, hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-2R levels correlated with functional class severity, while IL-6 and TNF-a levels correlated strongly with valve calcification (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The chronic phase of RVD is associated with ongoing serum inflammatory mediators which correlate strongly with the severity of valve involvement, valve scarring, subsequent valve calcification and decreasing functional status. Future research in this area should focus on whether anti-inflammatory drugs might reduce progression, morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic RVD.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Aortic valve calcium content does not predict aortic valve area.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common clinical problem which frequently necessitates aortic valve replacement (AVR). The traditional view of progressive AS is a 1:1 inverse relationship between valve calcium content and aortic valve area (AVA). However, this assumption has been based on subjective estimates of calcification on chest X-radiographic images. The study aim was to evaluate the relationship between AVA as measured with echocardiography compared to calcium quantification using electron beam computed tomography (EBT). METHODS: Sixty-one patients with an AVA between 0.7 and 2.0 cm2 underwent an EBT scan to evaluate the aortic valve calcium content. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) aortic valve Agatston calcium score was 1,458.4 +/- 1,362.2, and for the aortic valve volume score was 1,178.8 +/- 1,066.0. The aortic valve Agatston score did not correlate strongly with AVA (r = -0.34, 95% CI -0.54, -0.09; p = 0.007). The data pattern appeared curvilinear, with the poorest correlation noted for those patients with moderate and severe aortic valve calcification. CONCLUSION: The study findings support the hypothesis that the aortic valve orifice area decreases not only due to calcium accumulation but also to sclerotic processes.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Mechanical cardiac valve prostheses: wear characteristics and magnitudes in three bileaflet valves.

Three different bileaflet mechanical heart valves were evaluated for wear and durability characterization. The designs of the three mechanical heart valves encompass both geometrical and material interface differences. The St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve is partially characterized by a flat-on-flat leaflet-to-orifice closing stop interface with the orifice constructed of a graphite substrate with pyrolytic carbon coating. The CarboMedicsTM mechanical heart valve is partially characterized by a flat-on-cylindrical leaflet-to-orifice closing stop interface and the orifice is constructed of solid pyrolytic carbon. The Sorin Biomedica BicarbonTM mechanical heart valve is characterized by a flat-on-flat leaflet-to-orifice closing stop interface with the leaflets constructed of pyrolytic carbon and the orifice constructed of a titanium alloy. In vitro mechanical wear analysis was performed in accordance with current FDA and ISO guidelines for accelerated life and durability testing. Comparisons revealed that the St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve had the lowest magnitude of wear, but both the St. Jude Medical and CarboMedics mechanical heart valves proved to be very wear resistant. The Sorin Biomedica Bicarbon mechanical heart valve showed an extremely high wear rate and magnitude. The overall mechanism for material removal and wear must be fully determined to assess the long term efficacy of the mechanical heart valve.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of normal and abnormal prosthetic mitral valves by Doppler echocardiography. Doppler in prosthetic mitral valves.

Pulsed, continuous-wave, and color Doppler were performed in 165 normal mitral prostheses and 58 patients with prosthetic dysfunction (46 regurgitant and 12 obstructive valves) proved by catheterization and/or surgery. Mean mitral gradient (MG) and pressure half-time (PHT) were determined in all cases. Among normal prostheses, a wide range of both MG and PHT was observed in each type of valve and a considerable overlap between valves of different size. St-Jude's valve had the most optimal hemodynamics. Mild mitral insufficiency was detected in 14% of tissue and 24% of mechanical mitral valves. Repeat studies were performed in 30 patients over a 2.4 years period. Nine patients developed Doppler evidence of new prosthetic dysfunction, while Doppler parameters remained unchanged in 21 patients during the follow-up period. Among malfunctioning valves, Doppler correctly identified all cases of prosthetic obstruction (n = 12), and 42 of 46 regurgitant valves. We conclude that Doppler echocardiography is a very useful technique in both non-invasive assessment and follow-up of normal prosthetic valves in the mitral position and in detecting prosthetic dysfunction, especially when prosthetic obstruction is present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Carpentier-Edwards pericardial aortic valve in middle-aged patients: comparison with the St. Jude Medical valve.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to compare long-term results of single aortic valve replacement (AVR) with mechanical (St. Jude Medical valves: standard) and biologic (the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial) prostheses. METHOD: Between 1995 and 2002, 95 patients who underwent single AVR with mechanical (n= 46) or biologic (n= 49) prostheses were enrolled in this study. The mean age at the operation was 54.0 +/- 9.6 years (range: 20 to 69 years) with the mechanical and 68.8 +/- 7.1 years (range: 44 to 85 years) with the biologic prosthesis. RESULTS: The 9-year actuarial survival rate, which was calculated by taking perioperative mortality into account, was 90.3 +/- 4.6% for patients with mechanical valves and 87.6 +/- 4.8% for patients with bioprostheses, with no difference between the two groups (p=0.342). The 9-year freedom rate from thromboembolism, reoperation, endocarditis was 94.8 +/- 3.6%, 100% and 97.8 +/- 2.2% for patients with mechanical valves and 98.0 +/- 2.0%, 97.5 +/- 3.4% and 95.0 +/- 3.4% for those with bioprostheses, respectively. After 9 years, freedom from cardiac death averaged 97.8% in the group with mechanical valves compared with 95.3% in those with bioprostheses (p=0.541). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the mid-term durability of the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve in the aortic position for the elderly is excellent. Nevertheless, the risk of tissue valve reoperation progressively increases with time, and a longer follow-up may be necessary to provide its value compared with the mechanical valves in a country like Japan with a high life expectancy.

Adult↗