[Redo valve replacement for primary tissue failure of bioprosthetic heart valve]

We evaluated long-term results of valve replacement with bioprosthesis in 59 patients. Freedom from primary tissue failure and reoperation declined more than seven years after valve replacement. Seven patients underwent repeat operations because of primary tissue failure in our hospital. Their ages ranged from 32 to 54 years, two cases were male and five were female. At repeat operation, mechanical valve prosthesis were implanted to mitral position in all seven patients, tricuspid annuloplasty was added in five patients, and aortic valve replacement was added in one patients. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classifications were grade II for 1 patient, III for 1, and IV for 5 preoperatively. Five patients had severe pulmonary hypertension preoperatively, and three of them were died after operation. The removed bioprostheses showed tears, perforations or calcifications of cusps and commissural detachments.