Abstract
After the first two decades of constant improvements in valve prostheses, no major advance has occurred since the mid 1980s. Hence, valve replacement remained the exchange of one disease for another. With minor and, for the most part, statistically nonsignificant variations, the spectrum of late valve-related complications remained unaltered and the few series published in the year under review brought no additional information of relevance. By contrast, in the past few years there has been a growing enthusiasm for the use of allografts, stentless porcine bioprostheses, and pulmonary autografts. Not only was there a surge of interest in the allografts as aortic valve substitutes, but in the past year there have also been several reports of use for whole or partial mitral or tricuspid valve replacement. On the other hand, stentless bioprostheses are also gaining increasing acceptance, and all major manufacturers of heart valve prostheses have models for use in different situations and with different techniques. Finally, the Ross operation is now being performed around the world. Despite these advances, valve repair still merits the preference of many surgeons. Mitral valvuloplasty preserves left ventricular function much better than valve replacement. By contrast, the results of aortic valve repair look much less impressive. Lastly, this work focuses on recent reports on special aspects of surgery for native or prosthetic valve endocarditis, especially with the use of allografts or autografts; on the results of valve surgery in elderly patients, a fast growing group; and on the controversial issues of anticoagulation in patients with artificial valves.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.