title: Up to nine-years' experience with the Allcarbon prosthetic heart valve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Allcarbon tilting disc valve has been used for valve replacement at the present authors' institution since 1993. Herein is reported their experience with Allcarbon valve implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 1993 and December 1998, Allcarbon valves were implanted in 599 patients (341 males, 258 females; mean age 36.2 years; range: 7-64 years). Among patients, 238 underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR), 217 aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 144 double valve replacement (DVR). The etiology of valve disease was rheumatic in 91% of cases. Follow up was 95.7% complete; cumulative follow up was 3,185 patient-years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative mortality was 2.2% (13/599). Actuarial survival at eight years was 96.6 +/- 1.2% after MVR, 96.1 +/- 1.3% after AVR, and 97.9 +/- 1.2% after DVR. Freedom from valve thrombosis at eight years was 97.0 +/- 1.3% after MVR, 100% after AVR, and 90.0 +/- 9.5% after DVR. Freedom from major bleeding at eight years was 90.0 +/- 2.7% after MVR, 93.5 +/- 2.6% after AVR, and 79.7 +/- 7.6% after DVR. There was one embolic episode after MVR. No structural valve failure was observed. Freedom from reoperation on implanted valves at eight years was 96.1 +/- 1.4% after MVR, 97.9 +/- 1.0% after AVR, and 97.9 +/- 1.5% after DVR. On completion of follow up, 91.3% of survivors were in NYHA class I, 8.5% in class II, and 0.2% in class III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among a population of mostly young patients with rheumatic valve disease, the Allcarbon valve showed satisfactory clinical performance when implanted in the mitral and aortic positions.
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. hohuynhquangtri@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tri H Q
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Phan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Nguyen
authors.forename: Phuong K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Vinh N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Pham
mesh_terms: D000074:Acenocoumarol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000074:Acenocoumarol