Long-term follow-up in 54 patients after combined mitral and aortic valve replacement with the Lillehei-Kaster prosthesis. Overall results and prosthesis-related complications.

Abstract

A follow-up study was carried out in 54 patients after combined mitral and aortic valve replacement with the Lillehei-Kaster prosthesis. Twenty-two males and thirty-two females with a mean age of 54 years provided a total of 272 years of observation. The operative mortality was 16.7%. The long-term survival rates were 67% after 5 years and 55% after 8 years. The great majority of survivors showed a marked improvement in functional capacity and a significant decrease in heart volume. In spite of long-term anticoagulant treatment thromboembolic incidents were the most frequent valve-related complications. The percentage of patients free from valve-related morbidity and mortality was 75% after 8 years. Valve-related death accounted for 4% of all deaths. Fracture of the prosthesis was never encountered. These results compare favourably with those obtained with the Starr-Edwards' or the Björk-Shiley prostheses.