Aortic valve replacement. A randomized study comparing the Björk-Shiley and Lillehei-Kaster disc valves. Long-term...

Three hundred patients were selected at random in order to compare the Björk-Shiley (B-S) and Lillehei-Kaster (L-K) valves in the aortic position. The mean follow-up time was 4 3/4 years (range 3 1/4-7 years). There were 15 late deaths in the B-S group and 23 in the L-K group. The incidence of sudden and unexpected deaths was much higher in the L-K than in the B-S group (10:1). The 7-year actuarial survival rate was 82% in the B-S and 76% in the L-K group. In both groups the survival rate was higher in patients with large valves than in those with small valves; in the L-K group this difference was significant (p less than 0.02). The overall thrombo-embolic rate was 3.2 per 100 patient years in the B-S and 2.8 in the L-K group. Valve thrombosis occurred in 3 patients with B-S valves and in 4 with L-K vales. One of the L-K valves was thrombosed early after operation due to faulty suture technique. Of the long-term survivors of working age 80% in the B-S and 70% in the L-K group returned to work. There was a close correlation between functional capacity (NYHA) and the employment rate.