Replacement of valvular prosthesis is an increasingly frequent procedure in heart surgery. Better results are attained with the observation of correct indication and improved surgical technique. In the period of January 1984 to June 1986, 145 patients were submitted to prosthesis replacement, at our Institution. These patients received a total of 157 prostheses and 4 had their Starr-Edwards valve ball replaced due to ball variance. Six patients were submitted to a third valvular replacement in the mitral position, withouth deaths. Nine patients had a third valvular replacement in the aortic position with 1 death in the immediate postoperative period. Rupture or calcification of the dura mater leaflets were the main reason for the indication of prosthetic replacement. In the mitral position 41 patients presented rupture of the leaflets and 19 showed calcification. In the aortic position 32 bioprostheses underwent rupture and 12, calcification. Bio-prostheses were utilized in the majority of cases of replace the dysfunctioning prostheses. Porcine bioprostheses were implanted in 63 cases and bovine pericardial bioprostheses, in 35. Immediate mortality was 8.3% (12 patients); low cardiac output was the main cause of death. The most frequent immediate complications were low cardiac output, arrhythmias and bleeding. In the preoperative period 90% of the patients were in functional classes III and IV (NYHA). After the replacement, 89% of the aortics and 82% of the mitral were in functional classes I an II.
heart valves, prostheses