title: Mechanical cardiac valvular prostheses.
abstract: Mechanical cardiac valvular prostheses currently enjoy a 60% to 40% market-share advantage over tissue prostheses in the United States and worldwide. Only the Starr-Edwards caged Silastic (Dow Corning) ball, Medtronic-Hall, St. Jude Medical, and Omniscience valves remain available in the United States. Although each valve has certain advantages and disadvantages, no design has achieved functional mechanical perfection. Late follow-up of valve-related complications from the literature favors the St. Jude Medical and Medtronic-Hall valves.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Akins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001021:Aortic Valve; D002648:Child; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure