Midterm Follow-Up of the Bioimplant™ (Liotta) Heart Valve

Abstract

The use of a low profile bioprosthesis is interesting in particular anatomical conditions. In some patients with mitral stenosis, the left ventricular cavity is not enlarged. The characteristic low profile of this valve avoids obstruction of flow and traumatization of the left ventricular wall. In the tricuspid position, this design is particularly interesting because it leaves the right ventricular cavity totally free. From February 1981 to November 1984, 280 St. fude Medical, Inc. BIOIMPLANT™ (Liotta) low profile bioprostheses were implanted in 251 patients in our hospital. Eighty-six patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). Preoperatively, 64% of patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classes HI and IV. One hundred thirty-eight patients had mitral valve replacement (MVR), and II had tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). Twenty-two patients underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement (DVR). The operative mortality was 8.2% (AVR 5.8%, MVR 10%, DVR 9%). The 236 operative survivors were followed over a period of 3 months to 4 years. Actuarial analysis of late results indicates an expected survival rate at 4 years of 92.2 ± 2.7% for the whole group (AVR 96%, MVR 89.2%, DVR 94.6%). The actuarial rate of patients free of thromboembolism was 98.1 ± 1% (MVR 98.7%, DVR 86.8%); 96.1 ± 2.1% of patients were predicted to be free of infection at 4 years (AVR 97.2%, MVR 94.8%). The actuarial rate of freedom from valve failure was 89.6% (AVR 83.3%, MVR 96%). Postoperatively, 91.2% of patients were in NYHA Classes I or II.