[Prognosis following mitral valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards 6120 prosthesis]

Between 1970-78, 302 mitral valve replacements with the SE 6120 prosthesis were performed, with an average postoperative follow-up of 50,7 months, using the 3 M size (206 cases) and 2 M (96 cases with small left ventricles). Early postoperative mortality was 5,6%, late postoperative mortality: 17,2%, the 5 year actuarial survival rate: 77,4% and the 9 year survival rate 71,8% (early mortality included). There was no significant difference in survival after mono- (143 cases) and polyvalvular replacement (159 cases); only a voluminous left atrium (p less than 0,05) and left atrial thrombosis (p less than 0,01) were statistically significant prognostic factors of global mortality. Late haemorrhage due to anticoagulant therapy (3%) (0,6 per 100 patient years). The most common complication was systemic embolism (3,7 per 100 patient years). Actuarial studies showed that 86,6% at 5 years and 80,1% at 9 years, escaped this complication. Statistically the favorising roles of permanent atrial fibrillation (p less than 0,05), the size of the left atrium (p less than 0,02) of isolated demonstrated. 90,4% of the survivors were clinically improved: the functional result was better when that 86,6% at 5 years and 80,1% at 9 years, escaped this complication. Statistically the favorising roles of permanent atrial fibrillation (p less than 0,05), the size of the left atrium (p less than 0,02) of isolated demonstrated. 90,4% of the survivors were clinically improved: the functional result was better when that 86,6% at 5 years and 80,1% at 9 years, escaped this complication. Statistically the favorising roles of permanent atrial fibrillation (p less than 0,05), the size of the left atrium (p less than 0,02) of isolated demonstrated. 90,4% of the survivors were clinically improved: the functional result was better when the valve replacement was not a reoperation (p less than 0,02), when the patient was not in functional Class IV (p less than 0,01), in permanent excessively dilated (p less than 0,01) and in patients without severe tricuspid regurgitation (p less than 0,01). There was no significant difference in global mortality, the percentage of embolic events and the quality of the functional postoperative result between patients with the 3 M and those with the 2 M SE 6120 prosthesis.