Four decades with a Starr-Edwards ball valve in the aortic position.
As the first reliable prosthetic heart valve to be introduced, the Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis has gained worldwide clinical acceptance. Although very few instances have been described of valve durability exceeding 30 years, the case is reported of a patient with a well-functioning Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis in the aortic position, 43 years after implantation.
Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. otutarel@hotmail.com
Oktay
O
Tutarel
Arnd
A
Schaefer
Martin
M
Fuchs
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design