title: Implications of prosthetic valve implantation: an 8-year follow-up of patients with porcine bioprostheses.
abstract: Nurses in cardiovascular critical care settings routinely care for patients with implanted valvular prostheses. The presence of an artificial valve substitutes a new disease state for the preexisting valvular disease. Five hundred nine patients who underwent cardiac valve replacement with porcine bioprostheses and who were followed for a total of 1633 patient-years provide the data base for discussion of long-term survival, functional capacity, and morbidity associated with valvular prostheses. Seventy-two percent of patients survived 5 years after operation. New York Heart Association functional class was improved in 84%. Three major types of morbidity were documented: thromboembolism, endocarditis, and valve failure. Cardiovascular nurses should be familiar with the implications of valvular prostheses to provide appropriate patient education and to facilitate the prompt detection and treatment of valve-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Finkelmeier
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hartz
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Michaelis
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015996:Survival Rate; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology