title: Mid-term haemodynamic and clinical results after aortic valve replacement using the Freedom Solo stentless bioprosthesis versus the Carpentier Edwards Perimount stented bioprosthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the mid-term haemodynamic and clinical results after aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the Sorin Freedom Solo (SFS) stentless bioprosthesis, compared with the standard Carpentier Edwards Perimount (CEP) stented bioprosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data, 116 patients were included in the SFS group (53 males; median age 74 years, range 56-85 years), and 122 patients in the CEP group (85 males; median age 73 years, range 43-88 years) between July 2007 and January 2013. Echocardiography was performed at 6 weeks after surgery in our centre, and the most recent echocardiography (in our centre or in referring cardiology departments) was requested. Between September 2013 and April 2014, all patients were called by the same researcher to gain clinical follow-up data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mid-term mortality was 16.4% in the SFS group (19 patients) and 21.3% in the CEP group (26 patients); (P = 0.3). The mean transvalvular gradient was 7.4 ± 3.1 mmHg in the SFS group, and 11.6 ± 3.2 mmHg in the CEP group at 6 weeks postoperatively (P < 0.001). When stratified by labelled valve size, mean gradients were significantly lower in the SFS group for every size (P ≤ 0.03). After 3.3 ± 1.4 years of follow-up, the mean gradient was still significantly lower in the SFS group than that in the CEP group (P < 0.001). Clinical follow-up showed relatively low complication rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that the Sorin Freedom Solo stentless bioprosthesis is as safe as the Carpentier Edwards bioprosthesis, and provides better short- and mid-term haemodynamic performance than the Carpentier Edwards bioprosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen P J
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: van der Straaten
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leonard M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rademakers
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Albert H M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: van Straten
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Education, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houterman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M Erwin S H
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands aasmsn@cze.nl.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Soliman Hamad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aortic valve replacement; Biological valves; Mortality