OBJECTIVES: The present study is aimed at evaluating the long-term outcomes (up to 12 years of follow-up) of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement using bovine pericardial prostheses. METHOD: From March 1992 to January 2003, 287 patients underwent aortic valve replacement as a single procedure, using bovine pericardial prostheses. Of these, 189 (65.9%) were males. Ages ranged from 15 to 82 years with a mean and standard deviation of 53.6 ± 15.1 years and median of 56 years. The diameters of the bioprostheses ranged from 21 to 29 mm, of which 23 mm (105 cases, 36.6%) and 25 mm (105 cases, 36.6%) were the most prevalent sizes. Only in 1 patient was a 29-mm prosthesis implanted. The assessed variables were late overall survival, comparative survival of patients < 70 years and ³ 70 years of age and the percentage of patients free from reoperations due to primary valve failure. Statistical analysis was performed with the aid of actuarial curves (Kaplan-Meier). RESULTS: The overall actuarial survival at the end of 12 years was 91.7 ± 2.2%. Separate analysis of patients < 70 years (Group A= 252 patients) and ³ 70 years (Group B= 35 patients) showed the overall survival in Group A was 94.7 ± 1.7% and 58.1 ± 17.2% in Group B (Logrank test P= 0.0005; Hazard Ratio 0.20 95% CI 0.01 to 0.29). The rate free from reoperation due to primary valve failure was 96.1 ± 2.0% at the end of 12 years. The 4 patients with implantation failure were in Group A and had a mean age of 49.7 years. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bovine pericardial prostheses in patients with aortic valve disease provides an excellent survival rate over 12 years of follow-up. Patients with 70 years and over had a significantly lower survival, but dysfunctions were only observed in the younger group of patients.
Bioprosthesis; Aortic valve; Survival; Clinical Evolution
