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Updated: Oct 8, 2026
Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
Intermediate-term results with 1,019 carbomedics aortic valves
1Herz- und Gefaessklinik, Bad Neustadt, Germany. huihuali@msn.com
Background:
A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the intermediate-term outcome in patients with the Carbomedics aortic valve prosthesis.
Methods:
The study included 1,019 primary valve replacements between 1989 and 1997. Seventy-two percent of patients were men; mean (standard deviation) age was 61 (10) years. The preoperative New York Heart Association functional class was III or IV in 70% of patients. Follow-up at 9 years was 99.6% complete, comprising 2,730 patient-years (mean, 2.7 years).
Results:
Patient survival, including operative deaths, was 80% at 7 years. The linearized death rate was 2.9%/year. Statistically significant risk factors for mortality were diabetes, pure valve insufficiency, advanced age at operation, and advanced preoperative functional class. Linearized rates were thrombosis, 0.1%/year; thromboembolism, 1.0%/year; hemorrhage, 1.7%/year; endocarditis, 0.1%/year; paravalvular leak, 0.1%/year; reoperation, 0.1%/year; and all events, 3.0%/year. The 7-year estimates of freedom from complications were thrombosis, 99%; thromboembolism, 93%; hemorrhage, 89%; endocarditis, 99%; paravalvular leak, 99.7%; reoperation, 99%; and all events, 82%. No structural valve failure was observed.
Conclusions:
The low incidence of valve-related complications favors the continued use of the Carbomedics valve in the aortic position.
