title: Fourteen years' experience with the CarboMedics valve in young adults with aortic valve disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homografts and the Ross procedure are recommended by many surgeons for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in young adults. The study aim was to monitor patient outcome over a 14-year period after implanting mechanical CarboMedics prosthetic heart valves in young adults with aortic valve disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 1987 and December 2000, 55 patients (42 males, 13 females; median age 33 years; range 15-40 years) each received a CarboMedics valve in the aortic position. All patients were included on a consecutive and non-selected basis. Concomitant surgery was performed in five patients. Anticoagulation was commenced on postoperative day 1. After discharge, patients were followed up by their cardiologist or general practitioner using questionnaires and telephone calls. Actuarial estimates of survival and freedom from morbid events were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient died during surgery. Complete follow up data were available for all patients; total follow up was 404 patient-years (pt-yr). The 30-day mortality rate was zero. Actuarial survival at 14 years was 90 +/- 4.9%, and actuarial freedom from all valve-related events 92 +/- 3.7%. No valve thrombosis or major bleeding events were identified. Linearized rates per 100 pt-yr were: embolism 0.25; paravalvular leakage 0.25; prosthetic endocarditis 0.25; and reoperation 0.50. There was no hemolysis, prosthetic valve dysfunction, or structural deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over a 14-year period, implantation of the CarboMedics prosthetic heart valve has proven to be an excellent solution for AVR in young adults with aortic valve disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aagaard
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tingleff
authors.forename: Per V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Christel N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome