When and how does nonstructural mechanical prosthetic heart valve dysfunction occur?

OBJECTIVE

We discuss the clinical aspects related to mechanical valve dysfunction based upon 20 years' experience of our cases.

METHODS

Between January 1982 and December 2001, 21 patients underwent surgical interventions because of mechanical valve dysfunction. Thirteen men and 8 women (mean age 47 +/- 20, range 3-75 years-old), were included.

RESULTS

Mitral valve dysfunction was observed in 12 patients. Prosthetic valve stenosis occurred in 6 patients between 2 and 224 months, and paravalvular leaks in 4 between 1 and 71 months after surgery. The other 2 patients suffered from hemolytic anemia with mild paravalvular leaks between 102 and 104 months after surgery. Aortic valve dysfunction was observed in 8 patients including 3 stenotic lesions between 48 and 97 months and 5 paravalvular leaks between 3 and 150 months after surgery. Tricuspid regurgitation was seen in 1 patient with a huge right atrium at 42 months after surgery. Early death was seen in 1 patient. Late death occurred in 1 patient, 17 years after operation. Survival, including early death, was 95.2%, at 10 and 15 years. One valve-related complication of bioprosthetic valve endocarditis at the mitral and tricuspid positions occurred 12 years after a reoperation. The freedom from complications was 95.2% at 10 years, and 76.2% at 15 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Paravalvular leaks without overt endocarditis had latency periods of up to 12 years, and pannus formation was observed 20 years after surgery. Early and late clinical results after surgery for mechanical valve dysfunction were excellent.