Abstract
Aortic valve replacement with Mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis, with or without concomitant bypass surgery was performed on 403 consecutive patients between March 1984 and December 1994. The mean age was 74 (range 10-92) years, with male/female ratio 183/220. Early mortality was 3.5% (14/403) and late mortality 25% (99/389). Actuarial survival was 35.4%+/-9.4% at 10 years and freedom from valve-related mortality 86.2%+/-9.6% at 8 years (total follow-up 1 270 years). The thromboembolic rate was 6.5% (fatal 0.7%)/patient year. The incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis was 0.6% (fatal 0.3%)/patient year. Structural valve deterioration was found in 0.8%/patient year (no fatality). Actuarial freedom from all reoperations at 8 years was 92.4+/-8%. The Mitroflow pericardial heart valve is proposed as a good choice for aortic valve replacement in elderly patients, in view of the low rates of reoperation, anticoagulant treatment and valve-related thromboembolism.

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