Results of valve replacement with the Omniscience prosthesis

Clinical experience with the Omniscience prosthesis from two regional cardiac units in England is presented. Actuarial analysis suggests a prohibitive incidence of prosthetic thrombosis of the mitral valve, this complication occurring in 14 of a total of 96 (15%) patients studied over a mean period of approximately 1 1/2 years. Aortic valve implantations were frequently complicated by prosthetic dehiscence, which occurred in nine of a total of 88 (10%) patients who received this valve. Our results with this prosthesis contrasts markedly with our favorable experience with other types of prostheses and lead us to question the suitability of the Omniscience valve for further clinical use.