Experience with the Edwards Prima stentless aortic bioprosthesis: a 2-year review

The Edwards Prima stentless aortic valve is an aortic root cylinder which can be used for sub-coronary implantation, as a complete root, or as an inclusion cylinder. We implanted 68 valves in 68 patients: 66 sub-coronary, one complete root and one inclusion. Fourteen patients underwent concomitant CABG, one patient had a left main coronary plasty. There was one non-valve related early death. Patients have been followed for two to 28 months, mean 19 months. Five late deaths occurred, none valve related. Three patients underwent reintervention for endocarditis, two to 14 months after initial valve replacement; in all cases a root replacement with a homograft was done. Transvalvular gradients were acceptable, and effective valve area data were very good. Data did not change during follow up. Mild regurgitation was present in 25% of the cases at two years. The versatility of the Edwards Prima stentless aortic valve is a useful advantage in complex and unexpected conditions. Early clinical and hemodynamic data are good. Further follow up will be needed to evaluate calcification ratio and progress of aortic insufficiency to assess the real benefit of this new generation bioprosthetic valve.