CarboMedics bileaflet prosthesis, experience with 165 uneventful implants.

With the premise of better structural design, easy rotatability and less valve-related complications CarboMedics cardiac prosthesis (CarboMedics, Inc., Austin, Texas) was launched in 1986. We reviewed our experience with 165 implants in a group of mostly rheumatic heart disease patients with a follow-up period of at least seven years and a maximum of ten years. There was no hospital mortality, significant morbidity or thromboembolism and no patient to date has experienced any valve-related event. We conclude that the clinical performance is quite satisfactory and it improves the quality of life in patients with cardiac valve prostheses. We find the rotatability feature is particularly useful especially in situations where the entire mitral apparatus is preserved during mitral valve replacement.