Up to nine-years' experience with the Allcarbon prosthetic heart valve.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The Allcarbon tilting disc valve has been used for valve replacement at the present authors' institution since 1993. Herein is reported their experience with Allcarbon valve implantation.

METHODS

Between March 1993 and December 1998, Allcarbon valves were implanted in 599 patients (341 males, 258 females; mean age 36.2 years; range: 7-64 years). Among patients, 238 underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR), 217 aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 144 double valve replacement (DVR). The etiology of valve disease was rheumatic in 91% of cases. Follow up was 95.7% complete; cumulative follow up was 3,185 patient-years.

RESULTS

Operative mortality was 2.2% (13/599). Actuarial survival at eight years was 96.6 +/- 1.2% after MVR, 96.1 +/- 1.3% after AVR, and 97.9 +/- 1.2% after DVR. Freedom from valve thrombosis at eight years was 97.0 +/- 1.3% after MVR, 100% after AVR, and 90.0 +/- 9.5% after DVR. Freedom from major bleeding at eight years was 90.0 +/- 2.7% after MVR, 93.5 +/- 2.6% after AVR, and 79.7 +/- 7.6% after DVR. There was one embolic episode after MVR. No structural valve failure was observed. Freedom from reoperation on implanted valves at eight years was 96.1 +/- 1.4% after MVR, 97.9 +/- 1.0% after AVR, and 97.9 +/- 1.5% after DVR. On completion of follow up, 91.3% of survivors were in NYHA class I, 8.5% in class II, and 0.2% in class III.

CONCLUSION

Among a population of mostly young patients with rheumatic valve disease, the Allcarbon valve showed satisfactory clinical performance when implanted in the mitral and aortic positions.