title: Long-term evaluation of Carpentier-Edwards porcine bioprosthesis for rheumatic heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical results of Carpentier-Edwards standard bioprosthesis have been extensively studied for valvular heart surgery in America and Europe. However, the data of long-term performance of Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine valve in areas with a high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease are still lacking. In this study, we assessed the clinical performance of Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine bioprostheses in a patient group with high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 872 patients underwent valvular heart surgery with Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine bioprostheses replacement between 1975 and 1999 and the results were analyzed. Rheumatic etiology counts for 95% of the patients. Mean age of operation was 40 +/- 14 years (mitral valve), 43 +/- 19 years (aortic valve), and 45 +/- 13 years (double valve). Follow-up was 95.6% complete and continued up to 24 years (total 7017 patient-years) with mean of 8.9 +/- 5.1 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative mortality rate was 5.85%. Actuarial patient survival rates after discharge at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 92.5%, 83.8%, 72.3%, and 35.8%, respectively. A total of 442 cases received reoperation due to failure of bioprostheses. The mean duration to valve failure is 12.2 +/- 0.4 years. Actuarial estimate of freedom from structural valvular failure at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 96.3%, 63.7%, 24.4%, and 7.7%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term result of Carpentier-Edwards standard bioprostheses in the present patient group is satisfactory. However, freedom from valve failure is lower than that of Western series. Younger age at operation and higher prevalence of rheumatic etiology in this area are possible causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsi-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yi-Lwun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Shu-Hsun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yih-Sharng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shoei-Shen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang-Yue
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome