title: Midterm evaluation of the Sorin Bicarbon heart valve prosthesis: single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to perform midterm evaluation of the clinical performance of the Sorin Bicarbon mechanical heart valve prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 1992 to December 2002, 328 patients underwent isolated aortic (AVR; 156) or mitral (MVR; 172) valve replacement with the Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valve. Concomitant surgery was performed in 83 patients (25.2%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total hospital mortality was 5.2%. Survival at 7 years was 79.5% for AVR and 82.4% for MVR. Kaplan-Meier freedoms from valve-related complications were as follows: thromboembolism 92.7% (AVR 94.8%, MVR 92.1%); bleeding 93% (AVR 91.9%, MVR 94.5%); nonstructural dysfunction 96.6% (AVR 94.7%; MVR 97.9%); endocarditis 97.7% (AVR 97.4%, MVR 98.1%); and reoperation 95.7% (AVR 96.6%, MVR 93.9%). Overall freedom from valve-related death was 93.2% (AVR 99.3%, MVR 91.2%). At the end of follow-up, 88.9% of survivors were in New York Heart Association class I or II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sorin Bicarbon valve is a satisfactory mechanical valve prosthesis with low mortality and morbidity and good functional results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Policlinico Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. nicola_vitale@lycos.co.uk
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Giangiuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cappabianca
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visicchio
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fondacone
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paradiso
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannatrizio
authors.forename: Luigi de Luca Tupputi
authors.initials: Lde L
authors.lastname: Schinosa
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate