• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.584-594
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• 1986

Despite the multivariate improvements in tissue treatment, material, and design of prosthetic heart valves in recent years, numerous complications that may lead to valve dysfunction remain a constant threat after valve replacement. Most common indications for prosthetic valve failure are primary valve failure, infective endocarditis, paravalvular leakage, and thromboembolism. From 1977 to 1986, 15 patients underwent reoperation for prosthetic valve failure in 278 cases of valve surgery. The etiology of prosthetic valve failure were primary valve failure in 12 patients [80 %], infective endocarditis in 2 patients [13.3 %], and a paravalvular leakage [6.7 %]. The average durations of implantation were 45.5 months; 53.9 months in primary valve failure, 16 months in infective endocarditis, and 4 months in paravalvular leakage. The rate of valve failure was high under age of 30 [11/15]. Calcifications and collagen disruption of prosthesis were main cause of primary valve failure in macro- & micropathology. Prosthesis used in reoperation were 5 tissue valves and 10 mechanical valves. Operative mortality were 13.3 % [2/15], due to intractable endocarditis and ventricular arrhythmia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.750-755
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• 1992

We report a case of leaflet embolization of central leaflet fracture a 31mm mitral Edw-ards-Duromedics prosthesis. A leaflet was fractured to two segments, a larger one embolized to right common iliac artery and a smaller one to left femoral artery, respectively. Patient was reoperated with 29mm mitral Carbomedics prosthesis and incidentally found of smaller segment in left femoral artery at cannulation site. The embolectomy was done 15 days after cardiac operation through midline abdominal incision, Leaflet escape of a mitral Edward-Duromedics prosthesis is a rare, potentially curable mode of valve failure. After mechanical valve replacement, unexplained heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, mechanical valve failure should be suspected. Correct interpretation of clinical signs, symptoms and fluroscopy should allow early diagnosis of leaflet escape and prompt surgical therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.753-760
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• 1993

The CarboMedics valve is a bileaflet prosthesis with excellent hemodynamic characteristics, but the long term surgical experience with this valve, its durability and its biocompatibility are unknown. During a 5 year period from october 1988 to July 1993, 748 prostheses [402 mitral, 261 aortic, 58 tricuspid, 27 pulmonic] were inserted in 552 patients [mean age 40.2 years]. The operative mortality was 6.6% [37/560, 13.2% in age group below 15 years and 5.7% above 15 years]. and the main causes of death were complex congenital malformation and left ventricular failure. Follow up was totaled 1182 patient- years and mean follow up was 28.3 months/patient. No structural failure has been observed. Hemorrhage was the most frequent valve related complication[1.78% / Patient-year]. Embolism occurred at a rate of 0.93% / Patient-year. There were 5 cases of valve thrombosis [0.42% / Patient-year, two fatal]. There occurred 11 late deaths[6 valve related] and 42 valve related complications. Actuarial survival at 5 years is 97.18 0.94% and actuarial complication free survival at 5 years is 89.07 1.54%. In summary, the CarboMedics valve stands for a durable valve substitute, with low valve related complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.518-525
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• 1992

50 months experience with St-Jude Medical Cardiac Valve Prosthesis The St. Jude Medical valve has become our mechanical valvular prosthesis of choice because of favorable hemodynamic results that associated with marked clinical improvement and low incidence of thromboembolism. The data for this study was collected from April 1986 to May 1990, four years period. There were total of 110 patients[female 53, male 58] in this series with 22 isolated aortic valve, 66 isolated mitral valve, 20 double valve, 2 tricuspid valve replacement. The mean follow up time was 23 months. Postoperatively, 77% of cases were in New York Heart Association[NYHA] functional class I, and mild and moderate symptoms[NYHA II ] were present in 20% and there were very few patients remaining in higher functional classifications. In postoperative echocardiographic study showed marked improved cardiac function. The overall early mortality was 5.4% and was higher after double[13.3%] and mitral valve replacement[5.6%] and the late mortality was one case after mitral valve replacement due to endocarditis. The cause of death in early mortality was attributed to heart failure, acute renal failure, sepsis, etc.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.995-1001
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• 1994

The CarboMedics valve prosthesis is a relatively new. low profile bileaflet prosthesis. During a 6 year period from Aug. 1988 to July 1994. 158 patients had CarboMedics prostheses implanted in the mitral [n=94], aortic [n=25], or aortic and mitral [n=39] in National Medical Center. Hospital mortality was 9.4% and the main cause of death was low output syndrome. Follow up was 96% complete, with 365.4 patient-years and a mean follow up of 30 months [ range 1 to 72 months ] . The overall actuarial 6 year survival rate was 91.61 3.47% and actuarial 6year freedom from all valve related complications was 73.9 7.67%. The linearized incidence of vavle related complications was as follows: thromboembolism 1.37%/patient-year ; valve thrombosis 0.82%/ patient-year ; anticoagulant related hemorrhage 0.85%/patient-year ; perivalvular leakage 0.55%/paitent-year: prosthetic valve endocarditis 0.82%/patient-year ; reoperation 1.37%/patient-year. There were no instances of structural failure. We conclude that the Carbomedics valve has a low rate of complications that further improves the quality of life in patients with heart valve prostheses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.380-382
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• 2013

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.666-670
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• 1995

A total of and consecutive 87 patients underwent concomitant double mitral and aortic valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical prosthesis between January 1985 and December 1993. They were 44 males and 43 females with the ages ranging from 18 to 59 years[mean$\pm$SD: 40.9$\pm$9.5 years . Fifteen patients[17.2% had a history of previous cardiac valve replacement. There were 2 early deaths[2.3% , and 85 early survivors were followed up for a total of 352.6 patient-years[mean$\pm$SD: 4.1 $\pm$2.6 years . All were anticoagulated with coumadin keeping the target international normalized ratio within the range of 1.5 and 2.5. There was a single late death[late mortality of 0.284%/patient-year . Thromboembolism was the most frequent complication[1.985%/patient-year , and bleeding related to anticoagulation was experienced in one patient [0.284%/patient-year . The incidences of prosthetic valve endocarditis and of paravalvular leak were also low[0.284%/patient-year, respectively . The survival including operative mortality was 96.1%$\pm$2.2% at 10 years. The actuarial probabilities of freedom from thromboembolism and from all events were 77.9%$\pm$11.1% and 72.4%$\pm$10.7%, respectively, at 10 years. There was no structural failure of the prosthesis. Results from a series of clinical studies suggest strongly that the use of lower intensity of anticoagulation therapy lowers the thromboembolic as well as bleeding rates in patients with the ST. Jude Medical prosthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1122-1131
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• 1995

One hundred eighty-eight patients[August.23,1988,through July.30,1994 underwent aortic[AVR , mitral[MVR , or double [DVR valve replacement with the St.Jude Medical prosthesis. The author analyzed 100 patients with valvular heart disease,who underwent valve replacement with the St.Jude Medical prothesis from 1990 to 1994, at Hanyang University hospital Cardiovascular department. Information on volume and functional change of the heart chamber can be obtained by cardiac echocardiography and cartheterization. Out of 100 patients, 40 patients were male[40% and 60 patients were female [60% . Age ranged from 13 years to 68 years, with mean age of 42.6 years. Mean height was 160.3cm and mean body weight was 54.9Kg. According to NYHA functional classification, class III is most frequent and 60 patients could be classfied under it. MVR [involved Redo MVR was performed in 40 patients, AVR [involved Redo AVR was performed in 18 patients, and DVR [involved Redo DVR was performed in 42 patients. Warfarin [Coumadin anticoagulation was recommended for all patients. Life long warfarin anticoagulation was necessary to all patients who underwent valve replacement with St.Jude Medical prosthesis. Ideal prothrombin time was maintained about 30% during warfarinization. There were no case of mechanical failure. It followed a comparison of echocardiography before and after valve replacement at Hanyang University hospital [30 patients and a preoperative evaluation of cardiac catheterization and angiography [64 patients . The St.Jude Medical cardiac valve is a viable alternative in the surgical therapy of valvular heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.817-821
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• 1995

The CarboMedics Medical valve has become our mechanical valvular prosthesis of choice because of favorable hemodynamic results that associated with marked clinical improvement and low incidence of thromboembolism after it,s uses. The data for this study was collected from August 1988 to July 1993,five years period. There were total of 57 patients[female 40,male 17 in this series with 4 isolated aortic valve,26 isolated mitral valve,11 double valve and a triple valve replacement. The mean follow up time was 32 months. Postoperatively,58% of cases were in New York Heart Association[NYHA functional class I,and mild and moderate symptoms[NYHA class II were present in 36% and there were very few patients remaining in higher functional classes. In postoperative echocardiographic study, showed marked improved cardiac function. The overall early mortality was 3.5% and the late mortality was one case after triple valve replacement due to sudden death. The causes of early death were attributed to early prosthetic valve endocarditis and heart failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 1996

From January 1986 to June 1993, 12 patients Aad required reoperation: 9 had undergone mitral and 3 aortic valve replacement. Five were male and 7 female, and ages ranged from 29 to 61 years. Replacement of the prosthetic heart valve was performed at a mean interval of 98 $\pm$ 1 months after the Hrst operation. In aortic valve replacement patients the mean interval was 115 $\pm$ 2 months and in mitral valve replacement patients 98 $\pm$ 4 months. Primary tissue failure was the most frequent reason of replacement (10 patients) followed by valve thrombosis (1 patient) and prophylactic replacement (1 patient) in order. The most pronounced pathology of the failed prosthetic heart valves seen in the primary tissue failure group was calcification, perforation, shrinkage and tearing of the cusps. There was one early operative death (8.3%) due to intractable low cardiac output and acute renal failure. Eleven early survivors had successful operative results and there was no late death.