Abstract
The function of the Omnicarbon cardiac (OC) valve was evaluated in 22 mitral valve replacement and 24 aortic valve replacement patients by cineradiography in the early postoperative period and at six months postoperative. The maximum opening angle (MOA) in the mitral position was 56.1±10.1 degrees early postoperative and 49.9±2.4 degrees at six months postoperative. The MOA in the aortic position was 69.9±10.4 degrees early postoperative and 63.4±10.4 degees at six months postoperative. No opening resistance was observed. Although a decrease of the MOA was observed in the mitral position, this decrease may have been due to a large measurement error. Further observation was viewed as impossible due to the non-radiopaque OCvalve housing. The opening angle of the occluder was measured considering the blood flow direction in the aortic position. The left ventricular flow axis was determined from the left ventriculogram taken during the cardiac catheterization performed at six months postoperative. The MOA was measured based on the assumption that the housing sits perpendicular to the ventricular flow axis. This opening angle of the occluder to the blood flow direction was measured in 18 patients, 71.0±9.0 (48-85) degrees. Opening angle was lower than 60 degrees in only one patient(5.6%). In conclusion, the OC valve in the aortic position opens sufficientlyin relation to blood flow. This fact supports the good clinical results of the OC valve.
