title: Early clinical experience with a new tubular equine pericardial stentless aortic valve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study details a single-center experience with the 3F Therapeutics stentless aortic bioprosthesis(investigational device) and is part of a prospective,nonrandomized worldwide multicenter study. We assessed the implantation procedure and the valve's efficacy in terms of early mortality and morbidity and early echocardiographic valve performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2001 and March 2004, 24 patients (14 men/10 women) underwent aortic valve replacement(AVR) with a 3F valve. Mean age was 72 +/- 13 years(range, 31-88 years). Combined revascularization was performed in 12 patients; 1 patient received biatrial ablation therapy, 1 patient a myectomy, and 3 patients combined carotid endarterectomy. Echocardiographic systolic gradient and valve performance were investigated intra- and postoperatively by Doppler echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2 perioperative deaths, 1 non-valve related, due to aortic rupture in an 83-year-old woman, and 1 fatal cerebral embolism in a 77-year-old woman 5 days postoperatively. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 102 +/- 32 minutes,aortic cross-clamp time was 79 +/- 24 minutes. Sizes for implanted 3F valves were 5 x 23 mm, 6 x 25 mm, 7 x 27 mm,and 6 x 29 mm. Follow-up systolic gradient results were 11.5 +/- 4.7 mm Hg at 30 days (n = 21), 11.4 +/- 4.5 mm Hg at 6 months (n = 18), and 13.3 +/- 4.4 mm Hg at 12 months (n =13). During the follow-up period trivial central aortic valve regurgitation was found in 6 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3F aortic valve shows favorable preliminary hemodynamic results. Owing to the new valve design,implantation technique is simplified compared with other stentless valves. Anticoagulation treatment is mandatory for the first 3 months postoperatively. Long-term observation is necessary to assess life span and durability.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery and Cardiology, University Hospital Berne, Berne, Switzerland. friedrich.eckstein@insel.ch
authors.forename: Friedrich S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Eckstein
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tevaearai
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidli
authors.forename: Franz F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Immer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saner
authors.forename: Thierry P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Carrel
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome