Predictive value of prosthetic valve area index for early and late clinical results after valve replacement with the St Jude Medical valve prosthesis.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies indicate that a minimal prosthetic valve area index (VAI) of > or = 0.9 cm2/m2 for aortic and > or = 1.3 cm2/m2 for mitral valves minimizes postoperative pressure gradients.


RESULTS
To determine VAI as an independent risk factor for postoperative events, 607 isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) and 482 isolated mitral valve replacement (MVR) operations with the St Jude Medical valve were studied. End points included hospital deaths, NYHA functional class, late death and late valve-related death, major thromboembolism, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, and reoperation. VAI was calculated from the ratio of prosthetic valve area to body surface area for each patient, and a range and mean were obtained for each valve size. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 120 months, totaled 2964 patient-years, and was 98% complete. Mean and range of VAI (cm2/m2) were 1.31 (0.74 to 2.86) in the aortic and 2.5 (1.4 to 6.32) in the mitral group. There were 33 AVR (5.4%) and 38 MVR (7.9%) hospital deaths. VAI was not a risk factor for NYHA class, early death, late death, or other postoperative events. The actuarial survival rates, 84% for AVR and 80% for MVR at 5 years, were not affected by VAI.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the ranges measured, VAI did not influence the end points of the study.
Fernandez
J
J
Department of Surgery, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Browns Mills, NJ 08015, USA.
Chen
C
C
Laub
G W
GW
Anderson
W A
WA
Brdlik
O B
OB
Murphy
M M
MM
McGrath
L B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications