Aortic valve replacement with Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis: 1 to 8 year follow-up

Two hundred patients had an aortic valve replacement with the Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis between 1972 and 1980. One hundred and seventy six patients had aortic valve replacement alone (mortality 2.8%) and 24 patients had additional procedures. The overall mortality was 6.5%. One hundred and eighty seven patients have been followed up for from 4 months to 8 years (mean 33 months). The 14 patients who died later are analysed; half of these deaths were prosthesis related. There has been no instance of structural failure, ball variance or massive thrombosis in this series. All but 4 of the survivors showed functional improvement. We consider the Smeloff-Cutter valve a good choice for aortic valve replacement.