[Median-term results of the Ionescu-Shiley valve bioprosthesis (98 patients)]

Between April 1979 and September 1981, 98 patients have undergone valve replacement with an Ionescu-Shiley bovine pericardium xenograft (54 men and 44 women, average age 53 years, range 13 to 76 years). Fifty-three patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR); 28 had a mitral valve replacement (MVR) and 17 had double valve replacement (MAVR). Nine patients (9%) were operated as an emergency for endocarditis or for acute malfunction of a previously implanted prosthesis. The hospital mortality was 9% (AVR: 7%, MVR: 7%, MAVR: 17%). The eighty nine survivors were followed up for 6 to 37 months (average: 21 months). All patients were examined or contacted directly (as were the treating cardiologists) during the 2nd trimester of 1982. Eight patients were lost to follow-up. Six patients died during follow-up (6,7%) 3 to 22 months after surgery. The valvular prosthesis was the cause of death in 2 cases. Although only 37 patients (41%) were maintained on long-term anticoagulant therapy, there were no cases of thrombosis of the valve and the incidence of embolic complications was 0,9% per patient year in AVR and 2,6% per patient year in MVR. Four patients (2,6% per patient year) developed endocarditis on their prosthesis and 3 were cured by medical treatment alone. One patient was reoperated 1 year after the initial operation. One case (0,7% per patient year or 0,5% per valve year) of premature calcification was observed (18th month) in a 16 year old boy who was reoperated as an emergency without any success.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)