A preliminary report on low-profile and pericardial bioprostheses: a new combination in particular anatomical situations.

Bovine pericardial bioprostheses (BPB), such as the Ionescu-Shiley or the Vascor, and low-profile porcine bioprostheses (Liotta, LPB) have particular features that make them useful in certain anatomical situations, such as aortic stenosis with hypoplastic annulus, pure mitral stenosis with little ventricle and double valvular stenosis with hypertrophic ventricular wall. In such situations, the use of traditional porcine bioprostheses causes problems. We report our experience with BPB and LPB in 25 cases of double valvular stenosis. Operative results were fairly good, and, with the excellent mid-term follow-up by 2-D echo and haemodynamic evaluation, the present authors are confident that these bioprostheses can be considered to be a good alternative to traditional ones and the first choice in particular anatomical situations.