Long-term follow-up of patients who underwent single valve replacement with Björk-Shiley prosthesis.

Single heart-valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley prosthesis was undertaken in 118 patients between Jan. 3, 1970 and Dec. 31, 1977. The hospital mortality was 7% for patients who had aortic valve replacement and 9% for those who had mitral valve replacement. Recent improvements in techniques for myocardial preservation and cardiopulmonary bypass resulted in a notable reduction in hospital mortality during the period 1974 to 1977 compared with that in the period 1970 to 1973; the rate was 5% for aortic valve replacement and 4% for mitral valve replacement between 1974 and 1977 compared with 9% and 18%, respectively, during the period 1970 to 1973. There was an additional late mortality of 8% in patients who had an aortic valve replaced and 11% in those who had a mitral valve replaced; the mean follow-up was 2.3 years (range 6 months to 7.5 years). Seventy-one patients with an aortic valve prosthesis and 38 patients with a mitral valve prosthesis were alive at the time of late follow-up. In patients who received an aortic valve prosthesis, 73% had an excellent result after operation (New York Heart Association classes I or II) and 18% had some functional improvement. In patients who received a mitral valve prosthesis, 68% had an excellent result and 18% were functionally improved after operation. The incidence of thromboembolism was 8.3% and of anticoagulant-related complications, 13.8%.