Aortic valve replacement with frame-supported autologous fascia lata grafts. II. Clinical and laboratory findings.
Thirty-five patients with a frame-supported autologous fascia lata graft implanted in the aortic annulus were investigated 11 to 36 months after operation. The group comprised 7 patients with pure aortic stenosis, 11 with combined stenosis and incompetence and 17 with pure aortic incompetence. Seven patients had concommitant mitral valve disease. The follow-up investigation included ECG, a work test on a bicycle ergometer, dynamic spirometry, roentgenological heart volume determination and haematological "screening tests" for intravascular haemolysis. Concomitant with a marked subjective improvement of the patients, there was a considerable objective improvement, as judged by physical working capacity, ECG signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and heart volume. The serum haptoglobin values were somewhat lower postoperatively (mean value 44 mg%), but no ahaptoglobinaemia occurred. Thus, no definite signs of intravascular haemolysis were noted. No thrombo-embolism occurred within this observation period, despite the fact that none of the patients with isolated aortic valve replacement were treated with anticoagulants. This investigation shows that a frame-supported autologous fascia lata valvular graft in the aorta can function well during a period of up to 3 years.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
D006242:Haptoglobins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin