[Short- and mean results of mitral and aortic valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley disc prosthesis. Thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications].

96 patients with a Björk aortic valve and 112 patients with a Björk mitral valve were followed up for four and a half years and five years after operation respectively. The actuarial survival rate was 82.5% in the aortic and 73% in the mitral patients. Late death was observed in 7.3% of mitral patients with thromboembolic complications and 4.2% of mitral patients with left ventricular dysfunction, compared to 2.6% of aortic patients with thromboembolism and 3.6% with left ventricular dysfunction. The incidence of thrombolic complications was three times as great with the prosthesis in the mitral position. The probability of absence of thromboembolic complications, studied by actuarial methods, was 93% at 4 1/2 years in aortic prostheses compared to 82% at 5 years in the mitral prostheses. 12 haemorrhagic complications (5.7%), with one fatality, were observed. Aortic valve replacement with a Björk prosthesis is a very satisfactory operation and the results compare favourably with other prostheses. However, the risk of thromboembolic complications should be seriously considered in the surgical indications when this prosthesis is to be used for mitral valve replacement.