title: Multiple mechanical valve replacement surgery comparison of St. Jude Medical and CarboMedics prostheses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The experience with the St. Jude Medical (SJM) and CarboMedics (CM) bileaflet mechanical prostheses was evaluated to determine thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications and predictive risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1989 to 1994, a total of 246 patients had multiple valve replacement (SJM, 140; CM, 106); concomitant procedures 20.3% (50) [coronary artery bypass 10.6% (26)] and 53.7% (132) previous cardiac surgery, primarily valve replacement procedures. The pre-operative variables [coronary artery disease, previous cardiovascular surgery, concomitant procedures, valve lesion (except mitral stenosis), status, atrial fibrillation, and NYHA III/IV] did not distinguish the prosthesis-type (pNS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prosthesis-type and the pre-operative variables, including atrial fibrillation, were not predictive of overall thromboembolism (TE). The linearized rate of total TE events for overall multiple replacements (MR) was 5.4%/patient-year (minor, 2.52; major 2.85); the total TE for CM and SJM was 5.4%/patient-year, respectively. The < or = 30 day major TE crude rate was 0.82%, while the > 30 day major event rate was 2.7%/patient-year. Of the total (major and minor) TE events 100% (3) of < or = 30 days and 72% (29), > 30 days had an INR < 2.5 at or immediately prior to the event. The thrombosis rate (included in total TE events) was 0.67%/patient-year (4 events, 100% INR < 2.5). Of the various TE event categories the prosthesis-types (CM and SJM) were not differentiated (pNS). The freedom, at 5 years, from major/fatal TE, thrombosis and hemorrhage from anticoagulation was 89.3 +/- 3.8% for CM and 87.9 +/- 3.7% for SJM and, 91.3 +/- 3.5% and 89.3 +/- 3.7%, respectively, (pNS) exclusive of early events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performance of the CarboMedics and St. Jude Medical prostheses in multiple valve replacement surgery in this non-randomized prospective study revealed no significant differences in performance with regard to thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital-Heart Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Miyagishima
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Grunkemeier
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Tyers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome