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Twenty-year experience with the CarboMedics mechanical valve prosthesis
Denis Bouchard1, Amine Mazine1, Louis-Mathieu Stevens2
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|November 28, 2013
Summary
The CarboMedics mechanical valve prosthesis shows long-term effectiveness and durability for mitral and aortic valve replacement. This study confirms a low rate of valve-related events and no structural failures over 20 years.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Background:
- The CarboMedics mechanical prosthesis has been utilized for over two decades in mitral and aortic valve replacement procedures.
- This study focuses on evaluating the long-term performance and patient outcomes associated with this specific prosthetic valve.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term survival rates of patients who received the CarboMedics mechanical valve prosthesis.
- To analyze the incidence and types of valve-related complications over an extended follow-up period.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 3,297 patients undergoing either aortic valve replacement (AVR) or mitral valve replacement (MVR) with the CarboMedics valve between June 1988 and May 2010.
- Annual follow-up assessments were conducted at the Montreal Heart Institute valve clinic to monitor for valve-related complications.
Main Results:
- Operative mortality was 4% for AVR and 7% for MVR. At 20 years, freedom from late mortality was 43.2% (AVR) and 40.9% (MVR).
- Freedom from valve-related mortality was 78.3% (AVR) and 74.6% (MVR). Key event rates at 20 years included thromboembolism (91.6% AVR, 88.5% MVR), reoperation (89.2% AVR, 80.3% MVR), and bleeding (89.5% AVR, 88% MVR).
- Excellent freedom from endocarditis (97.3%) and valve thrombosis (98.9% AVR, 91.4% MVR) was observed, with no instances of structural valve failure.
Conclusions:
- The CarboMedics mechanical valve prosthesis demonstrates sustained efficacy and durability in clinical practice.
- The prosthesis is associated with a low rate of adverse events and exhibits no structural deterioration over a 20-year period.
