Utilization of the St. Jude Medical prosthesis in the aortic position.

Intensive in vitro and in vivo studies led to the clinical introduction of the St. Jude Medical (SJM) prosthesis in October 1977. Because of excellent clinical characteristics, handling, and durability, as well as the low incidence of clinically adverse events, the SJM valve has become the most commonly used prosthetic heart valve. In 1,431 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement during a 15-year period, the incidence of clinically adverse events, including thromboembolism, thrombosis, paravalvar leak, reoperation and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, have been less than 0.8% per patient-year in both adult and pediatric patients. There have been no structural failures. The SJM prosthesis is an excellent device for the treatment of diseases of the aortic valve.