The CryoLife O'Brien stentless porcine aortic bioprosthesis: 5-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Mortality, morbidity, complication rates, and echo hemodynamic results using the Cryolife O'Brien stentless aortic bioprosthesis over a 5-year period are reported.


METHODS
The stentless valve was implanted in 97 conscecutive patients, 54 male and 43 female, mean age 70.9 +/- 6.5 years. All patients underwent preoperative, discharge (early study), 6-month (intermediate study), and late (18.3 +/- 10.4 months) echocardiography.


RESULTS
The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 93.9% +/- 3%. Aortic regurgitation was absent in 95.5%, mild in 3.4%, and moderate in 1.1%. Peak and mean systolic gradients were significantly lower at discharge (p < 0.001) and at the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.001) but did not significantly fall further at the late study (p = NS). The effective orifice area index at discharge (p < 0.001) and at 6 months (p < 0.001) differed significantly from preoperative values, but variations at late study were not significant (p = NS). Left ventricular mass index decreased early postoperatively (p < 0.001) and at 6-month assessment (p < 0.001) with a further significant reduction at late echocardiography (p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The 5-year results of this stentless valve showed a low rate of valve-related complications with excellent hemodynamic performance in all valve sizes.
Gelsomino
S
S
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. sandrogelsomino@virgilio.it
Frassani
R
R
DaCol
P
P
Porreca
L
L
Masullo
G
G
Morocutti
G
G
Livi
U
U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015996:Survival Rate