Long-term experience with the Sorin Bicarbon and Edwards Mira mechanical valve prostheses in the mitral position.
OBJECTIVE
Sorin Bicarbon (SB) and Edwards Mira (EM) valves have an identical mechanical design but different sewing cuffs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after mitral valve replacement with these two valves in a combined population of patients.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed records of 73 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement using SB (n = 19) or EM (n = 54) valves. Preoperatively, 49 patients (68.1%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV. Concomitant procedures were performed in 52 patients (71.2%). Early and late postoperative echocardiography was performed in 69 and 57 patients, respectively.


RESULTS
Operative mortality was 4.1%, and early morbidity was 9.6%. Overall patient survival at 9 years was 85.1% +/- 4.8%. Actuarial freedom from valve-related death was 95.4% +/- 2.6% at 9 years. As shown by Doppler echocardiography, the early and late mean transprosthetic pressure gradients were 3.4 +/- 1.4 mmHg and 3.8 +/- 2.1 mmHg, respectively. At the end of follow-up, 98.4% of survivors were in NYHA class I or II.


CONCLUSIONS
The Sorin Bicarbon and, Edwards Mira mechanical valves in the mitral position provide satisfactory long-term clinical and echocardiographic performance.
Fukui
Toshihiro
T
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan. tm-fukui@gem.hi-ho.ne.jp
Shibata
Toshihiko
T
Sasaki
Yasuyuki
Y
Hirai
Hidekazu
H
Motoki
Manabu
M
Takahashi
Yosuke
Y
Suehiro
Shigefumi
S
D000368:Aged; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome