A mitral pericardial bioprosthetic valve IMC-Biomedica was implanted in a consecutive series of 798 patients with mean age of 52 years, from December 1977 to November 1978. The 722 patients who survived operation were observed during a period of 9 years (mean 27036 months or 2253 years). Actuarial studies indicated an expected survived rate at 9 years of 66% for adult patients and 68% for younger patients. The probability of complications were the following: rupture 0.4; perivalvar leak 0.4%; thromboembolysm 2.7%; endocarditis 3.2%; calcification 4.4%. The actuarial freedom from calcification between 1977 to 1982 (Group I) was 94.0% to adults and 12.0% to younger patients. On the other hand, between 1982 to 1986 (Group II) the actuarial analysis of calcification showed that 99.0% adults and 92.0% younger patients were free from this complication. Hence we believe that our option for the pericardial bioprosthetic valve was appropriate because 96.0% patients were free of complications deaths with the valve; this means that in 9 years the bioprosthetic lethal potential was only 4.0%.
heart valves; heart valves