title: Long-term follow-up of St. Jude Medical prosthesis in a young rheumatic population using low-level warfarin anticoagulation: an analysis of the temporal distribution of causes of death.
abstract: This study assesses the long-term (mean 52+/-24 months) performance of the St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve in 200 young (mean age 31+/-13 years) rheumatic patients on low-level warfarin anticoagulation combined with dipyridamole. Follow-up was 95% complete and comprised 867 patient-years. There were 33 deaths (3.8%/patient-year). Death was valve related in 12 cases and due to left ventricular dysfunction in 10. Death due to left ventricular dysfunction occurred earlier after surgery than death due to other causes (10+/-7 vs 29+/-18 months, p <0.005); these patients had larger preoperative left ventricular dimensions than the rest of the group (end-systolic diameter 51+/-13 vs 37+/-16 mm, end-diastolic diameter 66+/-13 vs 50+/-19 mm, p = 0.006). Actuarial probability of survival was 81% at 86 months and probability of event-free survival was 71%. The median international normalized ratio was 1.88+/-0.54. Thromboembolism (13 events) occurred at a linearized rate of 1.5%/patient-year. There were 11 major bleeding episodes (1.3%/patient-year), 4 cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (0.8%/patient-year), and 12 paraprosthetic leaks (1.4%/patient-year). No valve obstructions or reoperations occurred. Thus, the SJM valve performs well on low-level anticoagulation combined with dipyridamole. Left ventricular dysfunction was a common cause of death in the early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kontozis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skudicky
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hopley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sareli
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002423:Cause of Death; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin