Benchmark Outcomes for Pulmonary Valve Replacement Using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Databases

As less invasive alternatives to surgical pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) are being refined and evaluated, there is a need for benchmark data concerning outcomes from surgical PVR.

We examined in-hospital outcomes from surgical PVR in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) and Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (STS-ACSD) between 2007 and 2013, with a focus on patients likely to be eligible for transcatheter PVR (ie, ≥ 5 years age and ≥ 30 kg). Patient characteristics, morbidity, and mortality were described.

The STS-CHSD included 6,431 eligible patients with a median age of 17 years (interquartile range [IQR], 14-25 years). Preoperative comorbidities were uncommon: arrhythmia (1.7%), renal failure (0.1%), endocarditis (0.3%), neurologic deficit (0.8%), and diabetes (0.5%). In-hospital mortality was 0.9%. A major complication occurred in 2.2%. The STS-ACSD included 3,352 eligible patients; the median age was 41 years (IQR, 30-55 years). Preoperative comorbidities were more common: arrhythmia (24.3%), renal failure (3.8%), endocarditis (12.2%), cerebrovascular disease (7.9%), and diabetes (10.9%). In-hospital mortality was 4.1%. A major complication occurred in 20.9%.

Contemporary outcomes from surgical PVR include a low risk of in-hospital death or major complications. Patients in the STS-ACSD are older and have an increased prevalence of preoperative factors, which may contribute to higher morbidity and mortality.