title: Impact of postoperative duration of Aspirin use on longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valve in patients who underwent congenital heart disease repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Generally, aspirin is used as a protective agent against thrombogenic phenomenon after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) using a bioprosthetic valve. However, the appropriate duration of aspirin use is unclear. We analyzed the impact of postoperative duration of aspirin use on the longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valves in patients who underwent repair for congenital heart diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 137 patients who underwent PVR using a bioprosthetic valve between January 2000 and December 2003. Among these patients, 89 were included in our study and divided into groups I (≤12 months) and II (>12 months) according to duration of aspirin use. We analyzed echocardiographic data from 9 to 11 years after PVR. Pulmonary vale stenosis and regurgitation were classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 89 patients consisted of 53 males and 36 females. Their mean age was 14.3±8.9 years (range, 2.6-48 years) and body weight was 37.6±14.7 kg (range, 14-72 kg). The postoperative duration of aspirin use was 7.3±2.9 months in group I and 32.8±28.4 months in group II. However, no significant difference in sex ratio, age, body weight, type of bioprosthetic valve, and number of early redo-PVRs. In the comparison of echocardiographic data about 10 years later, no significant difference in pulmonary valve function was found. The overall freedom rate from redo-PVR at 10 years showed no significant difference (P=0.498).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated no benefit from long-term aspirin medication (>6 months) in patients who underwent PVR with a bioprosthetic valve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Woong
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Ook
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Ick
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Ha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Seok
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Aspirin; Congenital heart disease; Pulmonary valve replacement