title: Medtronic-Hall prosthetic aortic valve.
abstract: The unique design of the Medtronic-Hall single-tilting disc aortic valvular prosthesis includes a wider opening angle and larger lesser orifice for its pyrolytic carbon disc, translation of the disc downstream in systole, machining of the support struts and the central post from one piece of titanium, and a sewing ring made of knitted polytetrafluoroethylene fabric. These design features have achieved the goals of unsurpassed durability, excellent hemodynamic function, and acceptably low rates of valve-related complications. Gradient relief, even in the smaller sizes, is as good as any other mechanical valve. There has never been a report of clinical loss of structural integrity of a Medtronic-Hall aortic valve. The composite linearized rates (% per patient-year) from the global literature for valve-related complications are as follows: nonstructural dysfunction, 0.5; thromboembolism, 1.4; thrombosis, 0.2; anticoagulant-related bleeding, 0.9; and prosthetic endocarditis, 0.5. The Medtronic-Hall aortic prosthesis is an excellent choice for mechanical replacement of the aortic valve.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Akins
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012399:Rotation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013599:Systole; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C009139:pyrolytic carbon; D002244:Carbon; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D014025:Titanium