[Noise origin and noise-induced complaints after heart valve replacement with mechanical prostheses]

143 patients were investigated in order to determine whether there is a difference in the intensity of the closing click between different mechanical heart valve prostheses. 35 had St. Jude Medical (SJM), 38 Duromedics Edwards (DE), 36 Björk Shiley Monostrut (BSM) and 34 had Carbomedics prostheses implanted. Sound pressure level determined at 1 meter distance was significantly higher for the DE 33.5 +/- 6 dB(A) and BSM 31 +/- 4 dB(A) than for the SJM 24 +/- 4 dB(A) and CM 25 +/- 6 dB(A) prostheses (p = 0.0001). Valves developing higher sound pressures were more frequently audible for the patients (p = 0.0012), caused more sleep disturbances (p = 0.024) and more complaints during daytime (p = 0.07). Significantly more patients carrying such valves wished to have a less noisy valve implanted (0.0047). Symptomatic patients wear louder valves, were younger, had better hearing and were more frequently in sinus rhythm. Valve diameter correlated with the developed sound pressure level. 349 patients answered a questionnaire after valve replacement with DE (256) or BSM (93) prostheses. 5% registered their noise-related complaints as being severe, but more than one third wished to have a less noisy valve implanted. The noise created by the closing click of mechanical prostheses causes significant complaints and this factor should be considered when a mechanical valve is selected.