Clinical study of st. jude medical regent valve for aortic stenosis with echocardiography

Abstract

We report clinical study of the Regent prosthesis (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) for aortic stenosis using Doppler echocardiography. Methods : From December 2004 to May 2006, six patients (mean age, 60.2±7.3 years) underwent aortic valve replacement with a 19–mm or 21–mm Regent prosthesis for aortic stenosis. The results of pre–and post–operative echocardiography were evaluated. Echocardiography was performed to measure the mean left ventricle–aorta pressure gradient, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular diastolic diameter, % fractional shortening and effective orifice area index before the operation, at discharge and 2, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results : There were no hospital deaths or complications. Left ventricular mass index and left ventricular diastolic diameter decreased remarkably during the postoperative period (p<0.001). The postoperative left ventricle–aorta pressure gradient remained low, and the effective orifice area index was greater than 0.85 cm²/m² or 12 months after surgery. Conclusions : In patients with the Regent prosthesis for aortic stenosis, postoperative left ventricular mass index and left ventricular diastolic diameter decreased remarkably and good hemodynamics was maintained during 12 months after operation without patient–prosthesis mismatch.