Functional evaluation of the porcine heterograft in the mitral position

In vivo function of glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine heterografts used for mitral valve replacement was evaluated by cardiac catheterization in 14 of our first 33 patients who have undergone mitral valve replacement with this prosthesis. Diastolic gradients were present in each patient. Average mean diastolic gradient was 6.5 mm Hg for the group, and average end-diastolic gradient was 3.0 mm Hg. Calculated mitral valve orifice areas ranged from 0.92 cm2 to 3.39 cm2, the average being 2.15 cm2. With rapid pacing (heart rate approximately 140), average mean gradient increased by 6 mm Hg. No patient had mitral regurgitation. Two patients had calculated mitral valve areas of 1 cm2 or less; one of these was found at postmortem examination to have thrombus adherent to the ventricular aspect of 2 of the 3 valve leaflets, rendering them immobile.