EVALUATION OF PRIMARY TISSUE FAILURE IN THE MITRAL POSITION: COMPARISON OF THE STANDARD AND LOW PROFILE PORCINE BIOPROSTHETIC VALVES

Abstract

Primary tissue failure (PTF) after mitral valve replacement was comparatively evaluated between in patients with the Hancock valve and with the Liotta valve. PTF occurred earlier and more frequently in the Liotta group than in the Hancock group because of disruption of leaflet without severe calcification and stenotic lesion, resulting in significant decrease of the calculated probability of freedom from PTF in the Liotta group. It was suspected that low profiling of stent height was the major cause of disruption. In addition to disruption and calcification, stent creeping was a cause of valve failure especially in the Hancock valve. Hemodynamic function of the Hancock valve in PTF assessed by Doppler ultrasound was significantly inferior to the Liotta valve in relation to the passing of time. In addition, it was suggested that peak MVG was related to valvular regurgitation and MVA was related to valvular stenosis. In conclusion, we should furthermore be careful concerning the durability of the Liotta valve.